New Delhi: All set for the New Year bash today, cheers! Many must be waiting for the sunset to go partying with friends, colleagues and peers. But, pause before you hit the bottle.
No doubt, a few studies have concluded that moderate alcohol intake is good for the heart. So what? It does not mean even teetotallers have got a licence to start drinking.
You can splash in New Year celebrations, yet do not take a sip.
Former president of Indian Medical Association, Dr KK Agarwal, said "Indulging in alcohol for the first time in life is common among youngsters on New Year eve. Once started, it invariably leads to a habit. Along with that, during New Year people also indulge in experimental smoking and drugs.”
Consuming six drinks in one sitting in men (180 ml of 80 proof whisky) and in women (90 ml of 80 proof whisky) is considered a health hazard and can precipitate a dangerous rise in blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes leading to sudden cardiac death in susceptible individuals.
Dr Atul Gogai, a general physician at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, "For those who drink, the safest limit of alcohol is 6 gm per day. However, the current recommendation is, in the absence of contraindication, is that one can take 10 gm of alcohol in one hour, 20 gm in a day and 80 gm in a week."
10 gm of alcohol is present in 30 ml of whisky, 50 ml of wine and one bottle of beer. One peg lasts in the body for one hour, therefore, it is safe to drive only one hour after taking a peg. The rough formula is the number of pegs taken should be equal to the number of hours after which a person can drive. Alcohol and smoking together are more harmful.
Women should not take any drinks offered by strangers. Date rape drugs are odourless and colourless. Added to drinks, they can cause a state of mind where a person cooperates in everything she is asked. What's more shocking is that she would develop complete amnesia after the effect of the drug is gone for the period the person was drunk.
