Depending on how frequently you consume alcoholic beverages, it can be difficult to know how much is too much. For starters, you have to consider where you’re consuming alcohol and whether or not driving is part of the equation. For obvious reasons, you definitely need to avoid drinking and driving. Fortunately, because of many ridesharing programs, there is always an option when it comes to getting a ride home. For all intents and purposes, the question of whether or not drinking a fifth of vodka every night is too much has a simple answer, which is ‘yes.’ In fact, it’s hard to even conceive of a situation were drinking a fifth of vodka daily isn’t a problem. However, there is a lot to consider and it’s a question that’s worth examining.
There are people around the world that consume a significant amount of alcohol in the form of beer, spirits or wine. How their body responds to the alcoholic beverages consumed will depend on how long they’ve been drinking and whether or not they have built up a tolerance. There are some people who can only tolerate a single glass of wine before they start to feel its effects. This is especially true for someone that is not accustomed to consuming alcohol. On the other hand, you can have someone that consumes alcohol daily and has a much higher tolerance, which means they are not affected in the same way as someone with a lower tolerance. It’s important to understand that while you feel like you can ‘hold’ your alcohol, this does not mean it isn’t having a negative effect on your body.
Key Factors to Consider When Consuming Alcohol
When it comes to the quantity of alcohol that’s considered acceptable, it’s generally understood that men should not consume more than four drinks in a single day. However, this depends on the size of the drink. If you’re drinking alcohol out of a large glass, it’s obviously not the same as drinking it out of a standard-sized glass. Another guideline is men should not drink more than fourteen drinks over a span of one week, which also depends on glass size. When you consider this standard, it’s clear to see how consuming a fifth of vodka every night is well beyond the standard. What’s deemed acceptable for women when it comes to the consumption of alcohol is no more than three drinks each day. The total weekly amount for women is no more than seven drinks. Once again, this requires an understanding that a larger glass means you should consume fewer drinks.
The difference in what’s considered standard and acceptable for women and men is because of body mass and structure. Although these are general guidelines, what’s appropriate for you could very well be a lot less than the standard. Sometimes, it will depend on your health, especially if there are issues that might cause a negative response to alcohol. For instance, individuals with cardiovascular disease can possibly lower their risk of mortality by consuming less alcohol. Something else to consider is whether or not there are any factors that would require you to stop drinking alcohol entirely. For instance, women that are pregnant or endeavoring to become pregnant should not drink alcoholic beverages. If you’re someone that operates heavy equipment, you should not do so while drinking alcohol. There is also danger in drinking alcohol when taking medication that may not interact well with alcohol. Some of the medical conditions that may require you to stop drinking alcohol include:
- Hepatitis C
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Mental health disorders
As previously mentioned, there really is no circumstance in which drinking a fifth of vodka is okay. In fact, there is a possibility that you have an addiction. Consuming this much alcohol significantly increases your chances of developing certain medical conditions. In some instances, it could literally be a matter of life or death down the road. Since every person is unique, it’s important to understand what’s best for your specific situation. You might think consuming the amount of alcohol that falls within the standard is fine, but it might very well be a problem because of a health condition that you have. This is why it’s always important to receive an annual health examination so that you know if there are any issues. Call us at 833-820-2922 if you have any questions about alcohol consumption. We’re here to help!