As quoted by F. Scott Fitzgerald [1], “First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you”. As a result of this quote, it becomes clear why it is therefore critical to control the consumption of alcohol. The first drink impacts the decision to have the second drink, so the second drink has little control over the first drink’s decision. Alcohol usage should be controlled because it risks developing certain types of cancer, liver conditions and heart diseases. There is strong evidence that alcohol can cause cancers of the breast, colon, larynx, and oesophagus, among other cancers [1]. Drinking less alcohol lowers your cancer risk. In addition, When drinking more alcohol, the body breaks it down into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde which damages DNA and prevents your body from repairing the damage. When DNA is damaged, a cancerous tumour can form [2].
Additional study shows, In the natural history of problem drinking, impaired control tends to develop early and may predict alcohol-related problems prospectively in undergraduates. There is a possibility that impaired control over alcohol use is one aspect of generalised behavioural under control [3].
According to the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), 39% of 18- to 25-year-olds reported heavy episodic drinking at least once in the past month This level of alcohol consumption is related to severe consequences, such as traffic accidents. While many young adults will “mature out” of heavy use by their mid-to-late twenties, a minority will continue heavy use and may encounter clinically significant problems [4].
Alcohol regulation is currently unsatisfactory, leading to many detrimental outcomes, including underage drinking, driving accidents, and medical complications. While alcohol consumption is not the direct source of these issues, the current marketing, pricing, and management of alcohol production and distribution do not address the hazards of intoxication. This needs better regulation. As such, policy changes that address these issues are essential.
In conclusion, alcohol use is one of cancer’s most important preventable risk factors. Don’t waste life with a bottle that gives more problems than pleasures. Just live a healthy life without alcohol.
References
- F. Scott Fitzgerald, (2020), “Alcohol and human health: what is the evidence?”, Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, 11, 1-21.
- Tarao et al., (2019), “The real impact of liver cirrhosis on developing hepatocellular carcinoma in various liver diseases—meta‐analytic assessment”, Cancer medicine, 8(3), 1054-1065.
- Robert F. Leeman et al., 2012, “Impaired Control Over Alcohol Use: An Under-Addressed Risk Factor for Problem Drinking in Young Adults?”, Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 2012, No. 2, 92–106.
- Heather et al., (1993), “Development of a scale for measuring impaired control over alcohol consumption: A preliminary report”, Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 54, 700–709