Although beer and hard liquor, or distilled spirits, have very different characteristics, it would be a stretch to say that consuming them is healthy. In addition to health problems, such as cirrhosis of the liver, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcoholism and hypoglycemia, alcohol consumption can lead to questionable lifestyle choices, such as drinking and driving. If you do choose to consume alcohol, always drink responsibly and keep your consumption to no more than one drink per day for women and two per day for men.
Alcohol Content
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that it is a myth that beer and wine are healthier to drink than distilled spirits. In fact, one 12-oz. beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 1.5-oz. shot of 80-proof liquor.
Calories
The "beer belly" phenomenon is real, but beer is not the only culprit. The University of Rochester puts the calorie content of regular beer between 140 and 200 calories per 12-oz. serving, light beer at 100 calories and up, and a 1.5 shot of hard alcohol at 115 to 200 calories. Mixed drinks have the highest calorie count, with a gin and tonic weighing in at 280 calories, and creamy, frozen drinks in the 800-calorie range and higher. The beer-belly effect is not all about calories, however. Alcohol has a more complicated effect on the metabolism than calories from other foods and beverages, resulting in more calories stored as fat.
Carbohydrates
It is a myth that the carbohydrates in alcohol raise blood glucose levels, as the system metabolizes alcohol into acetate and carbon dioxide and not sugar. In fact, there is a high risk that consuming too much alcohol results in hypoglycemia, particularly in diabetics. That is not to say that alcoholic drinks are carbohydrate-free. Distilled spirits generally do not contain any carbohydrates, but the other ingredients in beer do contain carbs -- over 12 g in a 12-oz can of beer.
Absorption Rates
The concentration of alcohol in a drink has a direct impact on the rate of absorption into the body, according to clinical psychologist Michaele P. Dunlap. The body absorbs the alcohol from undiluted drinks, like shots and cocktails served "up" without mixers, more quickly than mixed cocktails, which the body absorbs more quickly than the alcohol contained in beer. The temperature of the drink also plays a role in absorption, with cold drinks taking longer to absorb than warm drinks. Delayed absorption often leads to over-consumption as the effects of the alcohol are not felt right away. Over-consumption can lead to a variety of problems such as alcohol poisoning, severe swings in blood glucose levels and liver problems.
References
- OregonCounseling.org; Biological Impacts Of Alcohol Use: An Overview; Michaele P. Dunlap, Psy.D.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Alcohol and Public Health
- University of Rochester: Caloric Values of Alcoholic Beverages
- State University of New York Potsdam; Alcohol & Carbohydrates: Five Myths; David J. Hanson, Ph. D.
- USDA: National Nutrient Database
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