Myths about Drinking
Myth: Beer is less intoxicating than other types of alcoholic beverage.
Fact: One 12-ounce can of beer, one 4-ounce glass of wine or one normal mixed drink or cocktail are all equally intoxicating.
Myth: Switching between beer, wine, and liquor will make you drunker.
Fact: Mixing types of drinks may make you sicker by upsetting your stomach, but not more intoxicated. Alcohol is alcohol.
Myth: Eating a big meal before you drink will keep you sober.
Fact: Drinking on a full stomach will only delay the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream, not prevent it. Eating before you drink is not a defense against getting drunk.
Myth: Pennies will Absorb Alcohol and Fool a Breathalyzer
Fact: A penny in your mouth or under your tongue will not change your level of intoxication or fool a quality breathalyzer. Pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, etc. do not absorb alcohol. As a matter of course, Officers make sure you have no substances in your mouth before conducting a breath alcohol test. Finding loose change in your mouth is likely to raise suspicions that you have something to hide.
Myth: Everyone reacts to alcohol in the same way.
Fact: Many factors that affect a person's reaction to alcohol — body weight, motabolism, gender, body chemistry, altitude, other medications, and many others.
Myth: A "beer belly" is caused by drinking beer.
Fact: A "beer belly" is caused by eating too many calories. No beer or other alcohol beverage is necessary, although alcoholic beverages do contain high caloric content and thus will contribute to weight gain. Alcohol may also stimulate the appetite, further contributing to weight gain in some instances.
Myth: Men and women of the same height and weight can drink the same.
Fact: Women are sometimes affected more rapidly because they tend to have a slightly higher proportion of fat to lean muscle tissue, thus concentrating alcohol a little more easily in their lower percentage of body water. They also have less of an enzyme (dehydrogenase) that metabolizes or breaks down alcohol.
Myth: I can drink and still be in control.
Fact: Drinking impairs your judgment, which increases the likelihood that you’ll do something you may regret later such as having unprotected sex, damaging property, or being victimized by others.
Myth: Drinking isn’t all that dangerous.
Fact: One in three 18- to 24-year olds admitted to emergency rooms for serious injuries is intoxicated. And alcohol is associated with homicides, suicides, and drownings.
Myth: I can sober up quickly if I have to.
Fact: It takes about 3 hours to eliminate the alcohol content of two drinks, depending on your weight. Nothing can speed up this process – not even coffee or cold showers.
Myth: I’d be better off if I learn to "hold my liquor".
Fact: If you have to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to get a "buzz" or get "high", you are developing tolerance. Tolerance is actually a warning sign that you’re developing more serious problems with alcohol.
Myth: Alcohol isn’t as harmful as other drugs.
Fact: Alcohol increases your risk for many deadly diseases, such as cancer. Drinking too much alcohol too quickly can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill you. In some instances, alcohol brings on highly aggressive and belligerent behavior, which is especially dangerous and contributes to all manner of injury to the drinker as well as those around him/her.