Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles focused on health issues men need to talk about with their primary care physicians.
You’re headed to a fish fry Friday. Then you’re ice fishing Saturday with the guys. And you wrap up the weekend with a Green Bay Packers game.
For a lot of us Wisconsinites, that’s a pretty believable weekend schedule and what else likely is true is alcohol will make an appearance – either at a bar, in the shanty or at a Packers party.
Men are more than two times as likely than women to develop alcohol dependence. Make sure you know how much is OK.
It’s simple: Use moderation
Know how much you can drink to reduce health risks? The answer: No more than one to two drinks per day.
“Drinking alcohol, for decades, has been a part of Wisconsin culture, but it’s important guys clearly understand the dangers to their health and importance of moderation,” said Dr. Eric Penniman, a Marshfield Clinic family medicine physician based in the Wausau area. “Many people are part of families in which it’s normal behavior to have six beers on Friday and then follow it up that weekend with six more beers during a Packers game.”
What’s too much alcohol?
For men under 65, keep your alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per day. Older than 65? No more than one drink per day.
Examples of one drink are:
- Beer – 12 ounces.
- Wine – 5 ounces (about a half glass).
- Distilled alcohol (gin, whiskey, vodka, etc.) – 1.5 ounces.
Drinking: Hangovers aren’t the only problem
While some studies have suggested alcohol in moderation can have some health benefits, including cardiovascular benefits, drinking too much can lead to health issues for men. Among them are:
- Depression
- Liver failure
- Cancer (mouth, throat, esophagus, liver and colon)
“Men also are more inclined to take risks than women. Those risks include driving while drunk and unprotected sex,” Penniman said. “Those risks don’t only affect you; they can potentially impact the lives of others.”
Binge drinking is NOT the answer
It may sound obvious, but often people think if they drink rarely, it’s OK to binge on the weekend. Not true, Penniman said.
Men, on average, binge drink 12.5 times each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s roughly four times more than women. Binge drinking can lead to health issues and also puts men more at risk for developing alcohol dependence, Penniman said.
Speak up about alcohol
We get it. It’s tough to talk about things like drinking too much. But it’s vital for your health to address it.
Penniman said most often male patients lie and simply say they never have more than two drinks per day.
“The key is trust,” Penniman said. “All patients need to know that any conversation with their doctor is protected by law. We as doctors don’t want to lecture you. We want to help, but we have to know the truth.”
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Kirstie,
This article is much more informative then the previous although both helped. Thank you for sending it. I did not know that a man over 65 should drink less than one under that age. Good to know that as I am over 65.
If a man drinks 6 beers a day everyday is that alcoholism My husband claims t is not because it is beer. Your opinion please
Hi, Kathy,
Thanks for the inquiry. I reached out to Dr. Eric Penniman, who is quoted in the story you read. Below is his response:
Research has shown that up to 14 alcohol equivalents per week will not have a long term detriment to one’s health. An alcohol equivalent is defined as a 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or one shot of liquor. Therefore, six beers per day far exceeds a moderate amount of alcohol. The consumption of six beers daily over time may result in several health problems later in life. Folks resistant to changing their drinking habits may have an alcohol dependence problem. The culture in Wisconsin is very detrimental to this societal problem since Wisconsin ranks as one of the top states in America for alcoholism.
Many Wisconsinites feel that because all of their friends and family drink this much, that it is probably OK. Convincing someone they need to change is a long-term process by which you can continue to offer to help your them find help. Often, patients with serious dependency issues don’t seek out help until they experience health problems. For the person possibly dealing with alcohol dependence, it’s best for them to first seek the help of his or her personal physician.
You guys need to take a class on OPERATIONAL DEFINITION before you use a simple number to put someone in a category. Is that 6 beers for a 300 LB man or a 125 LB man? Is that craft beer at 9% alcohol or lite beer at 3.5%? Is that 6 beers in a two-hour period or 6 beers over a 10-hour period?