Beer And Coronavirus: What's Safe To Drink?

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen people turning to alcohol to cope with the stress and anxiety of the situation. However, it is important to address the misconception that drinking alcohol can cure or prevent COVID-19. In fact, drinking alcohol can negatively impact your health, especially if you are infected with the virus.

Firstly, alcohol consumption can increase your risk of contracting COVID-19. It compromises the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections. Secondly, alcohol can lead to dehydration as it inhibits the production of vasopressin, a hormone that regulates the body's water balance. This is particularly problematic when you are sick, as staying hydrated is crucial for managing COVID-19 symptoms.

Additionally, alcohol can cause diarrhoea and widen blood vessels, leading to further fluid loss through increased sweating. It is important to prioritise your health and well-being during this challenging time, and that includes being mindful of your alcohol intake.

Drinking alcohol does not cure COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that drinking alcohol will not protect against infection or illness from COVID-19. Alcohol consumption can reduce the immune system's ability to fight infection and increase the chance of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), one of the most severe symptoms of COVID-19.

Additionally, excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for many diseases and can have other negative health consequences, including motor and cognitive impairments, mental health impacts, violence, pregnancy complications, carcinogenic exposure, and associations with several other diseases.

It is important to note that while alcohol-based hand sanitizers with a concentration of 60-70% alcohol are recommended to disinfect hands and surfaces, drinking or ingesting alcohol is in no way recommended for preventing or treating COVID-19.

There have been reports of people drinking industrial-strength alcohol or adulterated alcoholic beverages in an attempt to cure COVID-19, which can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. These substances can cause serious health issues, including blindness, kidney disease, and death, even in small quantities.

Therefore, it is crucial to understand that drinking alcohol does not cure COVID-19 and can, in fact, have detrimental effects on your health.

Alcohol negatively impacts your immune system

Secondly, heavy drinking often results in poor sleep quality and quantity, which negatively affects your immune system. Adequate, restful sleep can enhance the activity of T cells, which fight against pathogens, including viral particles. Poor sleep has also been linked to depression and other mental health issues, which can further compromise the immune system.

Thirdly, chronic alcohol consumption can lead to vitamin deficiencies, particularly vitamin B6 and folate, which are crucial for a well-functioning immune system. Additionally, heavy drinking impairs the function of B-lymphocytes, the white blood cells responsible for producing antibodies, further reducing your body's ability to fight off infections.

Alcohol consumption can also affect the intestinal lining, causing it to become thinner and more permeable, leading to "leaky gut syndrome". This condition makes it easier for disease-causing bacteria to overtake the "good" bacteria in your gut, leaving you more prone to infections.

Finally, excessive alcohol consumption can cause serious liver damage, impairing its ability to remove harmful substances from your body. The liver is a vital organ in the immune system, and if left unchecked, excessive drinking can lead to irreversible liver damage and even liver failure.

Alcohol can cause dehydration

While it is not recommended to drink alcohol when you have COVID-19, as it can slow down your healing process and further compromise your immune system, it is important to understand the effects of alcohol on your body. One of the commonly known effects of alcohol is dehydration.

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it causes your body to remove fluids more quickly than other liquids. This leads to dehydration, especially if you don't drink enough water along with your alcoholic beverage. The risk of dehydration is higher when drinking on an empty stomach, as alcohol is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the usual absorption process through the stomach and small intestine.

To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to consume alcohol in moderation, drink slowly, and alternate alcoholic drinks with water. It is also important to be aware of the other negative effects of alcohol on the body, such as gastrointestinal issues, endocrine system disruption, and impaired cognitive function.

While the belief that alcohol causes dehydration is widespread, some scientific research suggests that this idea may be exaggerated. A study from the 1940s showed that while the first alcoholic drink leads to increased urine output compared to drinking water, subsequent drinks do not result in a significant increase in urine output. However, it is still important to drink water along with alcohol to support your organs, such as the liver and kidneys, which work overtime to process the alcohol.

Alcohol can hinder your mental strength

Additionally, alcohol can lead to dependence and worsen mental health issues over time. As your body develops a tolerance, you may find yourself drinking more to achieve the same effects. This can result in a cycle of dependence, where increased alcohol consumption further disrupts neurotransmitters in the brain, leading to more negative feelings and a stronger desire to drink.

Excessive alcohol consumption is also associated with social problems, including relationship issues, unemployment, financial difficulties, and homelessness, all of which can negatively impact your mental strength and well-being. Furthermore, alcohol can interfere with your ability to cope with challenging situations. While it may provide temporary relief, it can ultimately make it harder to manage mental health conditions effectively.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is particularly important to avoid alcohol as a means of coping with negative emotions or boredom. Alcohol compromises the immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight infections. Therefore, consuming alcohol while infected with COVID-19 is not recommended, as it will only slow down the healing process and may lead to more severe complications.

Alcohol can reduce the effectiveness of medication

There are dozens of common medications that can interact dangerously with alcohol. The consequences of mixing alcohol with medication can range from gastrointestinal bleeding and liver damage to falls, traffic accidents, and overdose deaths. People aged 65 and older are at particularly high risk of harm due to age-related changes in their physiology and their increasing use of medications that could interact with alcohol.

For example, alcohol can increase the side effects of antidepressants on the central nervous system, such as drowsiness and dizziness. Alcohol may also reduce the effectiveness of antidepressants and decrease patient adherence. In patients being treated for depression, even low levels of drinking may be problematic as alcohol may increase the risk of suicide.

Another example is the combination of alcohol with opioids or benzodiazepines, which are often prescribed for anxiety and sleep. Alcohol plays a role in about one in five overdose deaths related to prescription opioids and benzodiazepines each year. Any combination of these three substances is particularly dangerous because they may have synergistic effects on brain circuits involved in vital physiological functions, such as respiratory suppression.

Healthcare professionals should talk with their patients about their alcohol use when prescribing medications to help them avoid negative outcomes.

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