Charles Bamforth, a professor of malting and brewing sciences at the University of California, Davis, revealed to the Daily Mail that beer “contains far more nutrients than any other alcoholic beverage.” Additionally, beer is full of fiber. Women, too, are at an increased risk of developing alcohol-induced liver injuries due to the slower rate at which they metabolize alcohol. Drinking any kind of alcohol in excess can lead to developing alcoholic liver disease. As the publication further highlighted, even moderate consumption of alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach. Although you could normally get a dose of vitamin B12 from dairy, eggs, and beef, your body is going to have a hard time absorbing them if you drink too much beer over an extended period of time. “From a nutritional standpoint,” a study published in 2000 cited, “beer contains more protein and B vitamins than wine.” While that’s all well and good, don’t expect over-indulging in alcohol every night for weeks at a time to do your body good.
Physical Health Risks of Regular After-Work Drinking
“Wheat contains less silicon than barley because it is the husk of the barley that is rich in this element. While most of the silicon remains in the husk during brewing, significant quantities of silicon nonetheless are extracted into wort and much of this survives into beer.” Clearly there’s a lot to know about beer. Those of you who like hoppy or malty beers will see the most of these benefits. According to a 2010 study conducted by researchers from the department of food science and technology at the University of California, Davis, beer was found to be an abundant source of dietary silicon, which can increase bone mineral density and may, in turn, help prevent osteoporosis. “For me, beer will raise my blood glucose, while a martini will cause it to fall a little,” Donna Kay, a resident of Kansas who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2003, told Health. However, you should take this with a grain of salt because, according to the publication, “it is difficult to know whether the beneficial effects are due to alcohol or other factors, such as lifestyle, education, or diet.” Drinking alcohol in excess can lead to devastating effects on the brain, including brain shrinkage and damage.
Harvard Business Review notes that physical activity can lead to better job performance and health outcomes, suggesting a link between exercise and increased efficiency at work. Supervisors and workplace policies play a critical role in addressing and mitigating these risks. In England, for example, alcohol-related productivity losses amount to over £5 billion annually. The habit can lead to absenteeism, tardiness, reduced work efficiency and strained professional relationships, ultimately affecting overall workplace dynamics. Additionally, alcohol’s interference with the brain’s communication pathways can lead to mood and sleep disturbances.
Potential Risks of Regular After Work Drinking
- Additionally, take note of any negative emotions or stress triggers that may be causing you to turn to alcohol.
- Exploring these options can help break the cycle of relying on alcohol to cope with stress.
- WebMD revealed, “Light-moderate drinking (defined as up to two drinks a day for men, one for women) has shown a subtle drop in blood pressure in some cases. In small amounts, it has been shown to lower blood pressure by 2 to 4 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) in women.”
- Furthermore, excessive alcohol intake can lead to higher anxiety and increased depression, as alcohol ultimately disrupts the brain’s natural chemical balance.
- Fatigue, stress, and medications can all amplify alcohol’s effects.
- The consequences of such drinking habits extend to safety concerns, with industries reporting varying rates of alcohol-related issues among employees.
Regularly check in with yourself to evaluate your relationship with alcohol and assess whether it is starting to affect your overall well-being or productivity. It’s also crucial to consider alternative methods for stress relief and relaxation. As a result, you may wake up feeling groggy and less refreshed, impairing your ability to perform optimally during the next workday.
Psychological Influences Behind After-Work Drinking
Some people lose their jobs entirely, and others find it hard to rent an apartment or pass background checks. A DUI can affect your job, especially if you drive for a living or need a clean record for professional licensing. Repeat offenses come with steeper penalties, including possible jail time. Slurred speech, red eyes, or the smell of alcohol can be enough to justify a field sobriety test. A tall, heavy man might handle two beers differently than a petite woman—or even differently depending on whether he ate dinner.
Polyphenols are also found in beer, and a study published in 2007 confirmed that these compounds may indeed benefit the immune system. “This fiber is broken down to form probiotics which help promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut,” the professor continued. Nevertheless, the amount of alcohol consumed makes a difference. But, if alcohol does happen to raise your blood pressure as oppose to lower it, is that safe? If you were to overindulge in alcohol every single night for a month, you could actually notice a change what does acid feel like when you take it to your sex hormones.
You could lower your risk for diabetes if you drink beer every night
Even if two people regularly have the same total amount of drinks in one week, their health consequences could be different. It means you have a pattern of drinking large amounts of alcohol in short periods of time. There is no health benefit from drinking alcohol.
Potential Physical Benefits
Long-term alcohol use has been shown to decrease myocardial protein expression and synthesis while accelerating protein degradation in the heart muscle, further contributing to cardiovascular deterioration. However, the dangers are substantial and warrant serious consideration for anyone regularly consuming alcohol after work. However, such gatherings can also lead to less desirable outcomes, including unfiltered speech, unplanned commitments, and unprofessional conduct (TLNT). According to a BBC report, in the UK, private sector employees are more likely to perceive an expectation to drink at employer events compared to their public sector counterparts. In the private sector, particularly in the UK, there is a notable expectation to consume alcohol at work-related events.
What’s a ‘Serving’ of Alcohol?
The consequences of such drinking habits extend to safety concerns, with industries reporting varying rates of alcohol-related issues among employees. Among the most concerning are liver diseases, such as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which can manifest due to the toxic effects of alcohol on liver cells. It is essential to consider these potential health consequences when engaging in after-work drinking habits. This is part of a larger movement toward redefining the role of alcohol in professional settings and promoting a healthier work-life balance.
The mechanisms by which alcohol exerts its carcinogenic effects include the damage to DNA, the impairment of the body’s natural repair processes and the promotion of harmful chemical production within the body. Other long-term effects include an increased risk of certain cancers, pancreatitis, immune system impairment and problems with concentration and memory. One of the primary psychological drivers is the desire for stress relief. As awareness grows, there is an increasing call for more inclusive, alcohol-free workplace activities that cater to all preferences.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also states that “alcohol use is a risk factor for many cancer types including cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and breast.” But there’s a little more to the story. It may sound far-fetched, but drinking beer may just stave off heart disease. According to WebMD, doctors caution against “at-risk” or “heavy” drinking, which means drinking more than three 12-ounce servings (about three cans) daily or seven 12-ounce servings over the course of a week for women. If you drink beer every night and it’s become part of your nightly routine as a way to kick back and relax after work, you might start to wonder how that’s impacting your health. Risky drinking can also increase your risk of stroke, damage your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), and increase your blood pressure. It can affect your liver, causing inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis).
- However, contemporary attitudes are shifting, with increased awareness of health, safety and appropriate behavior leading to a decline in work-related drinking culture.
- It’s a common practice and can be seen as a way to socialize with coworkers or simply enjoy some time alone.
- Furthermore, workplace drinking culture can vary significantly across industries, yet the consequences often bear similar traits, including reduced productivity, compromised safety, and strained professional dynamics.
- These include, but are not limited to, systolic or diastolic heart failure, arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, and an increased risk of coronary artery disease, as detailed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- The culture of after-work drinking is intertwined with social norms and pressures across various industries and cultural contexts.
Over time, this may affect your mental health, sleep patterns, and overall emotional balance. After a tough workday, having someone to talk to over a cold beer can help reduce feelings of isolation, especially for those who feel overwhelmed or stressed. One of the most immediate effects of drinking beer is the relaxation it induces. While this habit may feel like a simple way to de-stress, it carries both benefits and risks for your brain and overall health. For many people, having a beer at the end of the workday has become a familiar routine.
First-time offenders often face fines, mandatory alcohol education programs, community service, and license suspension. Many drivers who get arrested for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) swear they only had a couple of drinks. Fatigue, stress, and medications can all amplify alcohol’s effects. Since moving to New York City in 2013 he’s been writing on health and fitness full time for outlets like BarBend, Men’s Health, VICE, and Popular Science. As we already discussed, alcohol not only doesn’t contribute anything for all the calories it’s loaded with, but it also makes your body’s job harder. (3) While the science supporting a post-workout beer is mixed, to say the least, the research that says there are more cons than pros is pretty rock-solid.
Recovery from alcohol-induced health problems, such as cognitive deficits and cardiovascular issues, depends on several factors, including the individual’s motivation and engagement in treatment. These changes can lead to a negative emotional state when alcohol is not available, driving further consumption into an unhealthy cycle. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by an inability to control drinking, preoccupation with alcohol, and continued use despite negative repercussions. Regular after-work drinking can significantly impact cardiovascular health, leading to a range of harmful conditions. Notably, there has been an alarming increase in cases of acute alcohol-related hepatitis during the COVID-19 pandemic, attributed to a sharp rise in alcohol consumption.
That’s why it’s advised to have as little of them as possible and why they may be not-so-desirable for people who are constantly tracking their caloric intake. But a typical 2000-calorie eating pattern only allows for 270 calories a day to come from “discretionary energy,” which in addition to alcohol includes solid fat and added sugars. So a drink with 14 grams of ethanol — aka alcohol — in it has 98 calories just from alcohol alone.
When we say “alcohol,” we’re actually referring to ethanol, a naturally occurring organic compound that gives beer and liquor their potency. We’ll dive a little deeper into the science of how exactly alcohol interacts with your body, how it can affect your workouts, and how much of it you should drink. Most people typically chug a protein shake after an intense training session, but what if you could trade that for a beer or a cocktail after your workout? So what about those studies that say post-workout beer is a good idea? The Recovery Village Columbus offers several treatment options, including medical detox, inpatient rehab, and more, to provide you with personalized care at our Joint Commission-accredited facility. The center’s team of professionals works closely with each patient to create and continuously adjust treatment plans that ensure long-term success.