Alcoholic beverages have become almost as “American” as baseball and apple pie. Whether it’s Budweiser, Guinness or Sam Adams, drinking alcohol has become a social pastime for millions of Americans. However, on the downside, it has also become the #1 cause of automobile accidents, as people continually fail to follow the legal limits. Chasing that perfect buzz can be tricky, given all of the factors that influence how the body absorbs alcohol content, and there seems to be this fascination with drunken antics that pushes attention-seekers to the brinks of alcohol poisoning.

How does the binge drinking of alcoholic beverages affect the brain in the long run? As many as 80% of alcoholics have a thiamine deficiency, which predisposes them to serious brain disorders like Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS). WKS consists of a short–lived (but severe) condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and a long–lasting (and debilitating) dysfunction known as Korsakoff’s psychosis. The encephalopathy side induces mental confusion, nerve paralysis in the eyes and poor muscle coordination. Korsakoff’s psychosis leads to learning and memory failure, frustration and forgetfulness bordering on amnesia. Chronic alcohol consumption hurts the cerebellum worst of all and 25% of patients who develop WKS require a caretaker.

There are many dangers of drinking under the legal drinking age. One scientific theory is that your liver does not fully form until you’re 21. New studies suggest that kids, who develop a tolerance for drinking early-on, will continue to do so throughout their lives. Since an alcoholic drink can impair one’s decision-making and threat assessment, there are many social dangers that young people should be aware of. For example, drunk driving is the leading cause of car accidents and unprotected sex leads to STDs and are more prevalent among those who participate in binge drinking. Furthermore, alcoholic beverages are a factor in two-thirds of all sexual assaults on students.

Alchohol is known to be responsible for other problems that while not the potential killers mentioned above, they are certainly cause for complaint. Alcohol is a known cause for snoring so should be left alone in the hours leading to bed time. Acid reflux is another ailment that is not helped by alcohol. If you are taking any kind of acid reflux remedy keeping away from alcohol is highly recommended as advised by health blog online.