ONLY ABOUT 20% OF ALCOHOL
CONSUMED ORALLY IS ABSORBED FROM
THE STOMACH, WITH THE REMAINDER
FROM THE SMALL INTESTINE
In 2016 the 12th National Drug Strategy survey
was undertaken by the Australian Government.
This comprehensive assessment looks at trends
in consumption of tobacco, alcohol and illicit
substances and is undertaken every two to
three years. Data from the survey is also used
to measure community attitudes to drug use in
Australia. The 2016 survey was undertaken by
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
(AIHW) between June and November 2016. Key
findings were released in June 2017 and show
that overall, we are drinking less as a nation and
that there are more young people choosing not to
drink any alcohol at all than in previous years.
So what exactly is alcohol and what does
it do to us? Alcohol is primarily a colourless
flammable liquid, and the term generally refers
to the ethyl alcohol (ethanol) which is found
in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol itself is quite
volatile and is usually produced by the process of
fermentation of sugars. It is the main ingredient
responsible for the intoxicating effects of various
drinks including beers, wines and spirits. When
consumed, alcohol is rapidly absorbed into
the circulation and affects a variety of bodily
functions. Only about 20% of alcohol consumed
orally is absorbed from the stomach, with the
remainder from the small intestine. The speed in
which alcohol is absorbed can vary greatly from
person to person and can be influenced by factors
such as hydration and presence of food in the
gastrointestinal (GI) system.
Alcohol is a toxin, and our body views it as
such, therefore attempting to get rid of alcohol
by metabolising it into a non-toxic form for
excretion. This mostly occurs in our liver, which
can only metabolise alcohol at a certain rate.
This results in the accumulation of alcohol in our
system with a relationship between the severity
of the intoxicating effects being directly related
to the quantity of alcohol consumed and the
speed with which it is consumed. Intoxication
with alcohol can be influenced by age, sex, speed
of consumption and weight. The most obvious
effects of alcohol are in our Central Nervous
System. In the brain, alcohol exerts both sedating
and stimulatory effects by various pathways
including GABA and serotonin.
The debate still rages as to whether
consumption of small amounts of alcohol is good
or bad for us. Most experts agree that moderation
is the key in avoiding alcohol becoming a poison.
In terms of possible benefits of healthy levels
of alcohol consumption, there are studies that
demonstrate improvement to cardiovascular
health which may be related to alcohol. More
specifically, alcohol (in moderation) may
increase the levels of High Density Lipoprotein
(HDL or “good” cholesterol). This is the type
of cholesterol that can be protective against
cardiovascular disease. In addition, alcohol may
help avoid the formation of small blood clots by
affecting the clotting factors in our blood. This
reduces an individual’s risk of strokes and heart
attacks. Alcohol may have other positive health
effects, including aiding digestion and reducing
the risk of gallstones and Type 2 Diabetes.
From a psychological and social perspective,
alcohol (in moderation) can reduce stress levels,
increase socialisation and activities, and we know
that people who are less stressed and have an
active social life are less likely to suffer from
chronic diseases and are more likely to live
happier, healthier lives.
pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 27