Kava and alcohol are both used as social drinks, though alcohol is more common in the United States and many other countries, while kava is popular in the islands of the South Pacific. Both beverages have negative health consequences when consumed in large quantities or as a long-term habit. However, both have purported benefits when consumed in moderation. Limited consumption of red wine, for example, has known cardiovascular benefits, and moderate kava consumption correlates with lower rates of cancer, according to research published in the Hawaii Medical Journal in 2000. You should not drive a car or operate machinery after drinking either alcohol or kava.
Liver Damage
Heavy consumption of either kava or alcohol is likely to damage the health of your liver. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicates that kava can cause liver damage, including hepatitis or liver failure. Heavy alcohol consumption also damages the liver. Alcoholic liver disease typically occurs when a person has been drinking too much for several years. Alcoholic liver disease typically starts with hepatitis -- inflammation and swelling of the liver. The final stage of ALD is liver cirrhosis.
Legality
Kava is freely available in South Pacific nations where it is traditionally prepared as a muddy-colored beverage. However, it is more traditional for men to drink kava, and women may be excluded from traditional kava ceremonies. In the United States, kava capsules are marketed as dietary supplements without restriction. However, the Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory in 2002 to warn consumers of the risk of liver injury associated with kava supplements. Alcohol is a restricted substance in the U.S., with the minimum drinking age set at 21. In addition, laws restrict the locations where alcohol can be sold.
Effects of Alcohol
Kava and alcohol can change the way you feel, and how your body functions. Alcohol can produce sensations of euphoria, improved mood and greater sociability. It can also reduce your attention span. As your blood alcohol level increases, you may experience lethargy, impairment of your memory and comprehension, problems with physical balance, reaction time and blurry vision. At high concentrations, alcohol can cause unconsciousness, vomiting, slowed breathing and even coma. For an adult of average height and weight, the effects of one unit of alcohol -- equivalent to half a pint of beer -- will wear off in about an hour, although the rate varies with age, weight and gender.
Effects of Kava
Kava, when consumed as a traditional drink, can produce mild sensations of euphoria and relaxation. The effects of a moderately strong kava drink preparation will typically last between two and eight hours. Some kava drinkers report increased mental clarity and patience for hours or days after drinking. Similar to lower doses of alcohol, kava causes increased sociability, calmness, and increased talkativeness. Kava also causes a slight sensation of numbness around the lips and tongue. Unlike alcohol, kava does not typically produce a hangover the following morning. Long-term kava use can cause scaly patches of skin to develop.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Kava; July 2010
- MedLine Plus: Alcoholic Liver Disease
- Lonely Planet Fiji; Dean Starnes, Nana Luckham; 2009
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Kava
- Alcohol Problems and Solutions; Minimum Legal Drinking Ages around the World
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Alcohol: Effects on the Body and Behavior; Sherri Garcia; 2005
