Is there such a thing as a 'better choice' when it comes to alcohol?

This is a common question: ‘If I were to drink on the weekend, which alcoholic drink is the best?’ (and by ‘best’, most people mean lowest in sugar or lowest in calories).

Unfortunately, this question misses the point.

Let’s come at it from another direction and see if I can change your perspective.

Consider this. Every standard drink contains 10g of alcohol.

What is alcohol?

Alcohol is ethanol.

What is ethanol?

Some petrols are 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol or 85% gasoline and 15% ethanol. So to put it simply, ethanol is basically a renewable fuel. And we’re drinking it. Yikes.

So.

Let’s come back to the original question.

Alcohol (or ethanol) is the most dangerous component of an alcoholic drink. Not calories, not sugar.

If every standard drink contains the same amount of alcohol (10g), then there is no ‘better’ alcoholic drink.

Of course, mixing alcohol with soft drink increases the calorie and sugar content of that drink, but the alcohol is still the most dangerous component.

Hopefully this explains why there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

One of the greatest things you can do for your health is consider the quantity of alcohol you drink and how you might reduce it.

How’s that for a Friday night article…. Buzzzz kill!

– with love from Sportrition