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Most of us have gone overboard with alcohol at some point. In many cases, the aftermath is just a few hours of misery bent over the toilet. However, the effects of drinking can ripple through society at every level. Below are 10 bizarre truths about drunkenness, from radiation effects to the hidden hazards of walking while intoxicated.
10. Ethnicity
Human populations are certainly more alike than different, but there are some noticeable differences. One of these is how people in various regions metabolize alcohol. This is largely influenced by two enzymes—alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), both of which come in several different types. ADH determines the speed at which your body processes alcohol, while ALDH breaks down acetaldehyde, the byproduct of this process, into acetic acid and water.
Two groups particularly impacted are Native Americans and Asians. Specific combinations of ADH and ALDH enzymes can make Native Americans more susceptible to alcoholism, with alarming effects. For example, research has shown that the incidence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among Native populations is far higher than in other groups. Asians, on the other hand, have a high level of ADH, but this doesn’t make them resistant to alcohol, as they often lack ALDH. This is problematic because acetaldehyde, the byproduct of alcohol processing, causes greater sickness than alcohol itself. For many people of Asian heritage, consuming even a small amount of alcohol can lead to a painful experience of nausea.
9. Radiation Exposure
Warning: Only take potassium iodide if directed by health authorities.
Health experts recommend taking potassium iodide if exposed to severe radiation. Potassium iodide prevents the thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodine. Reports from areas affected by nuclear disasters like Chernobyl suggest that alcohol might offer some cellular protection from radiation. Workers in these areas were advised to consume half a glass of vodka every two hours while in the contaminated zone. However, this notion might be more of a folk remedy than fact, as at least one study indicated that alcohol actually worsened cellular damage.
A research team from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine has revealed that red wine can protect the body's cells from radiation damage. Interestingly, it’s not the alcohol itself that provides this protection, but rather a natural antioxidant found in the wine called 'resveratrol.' This compound is currently being investigated for potential use in the event of a nuclear disaster.
8. Boosting Performance
Many athletes, such as Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, were infamous for their alcohol consumption, but few would claim that drinking alcohol improved their skills. Surprisingly, there is one sport where alcohol has been used to enhance performance: competitive shooting.
In rifle competitions, precision requires a steady hand, and to calm their nerves and slow their heart rate, some shooters have been known to drink a small amount of alcohol before events. Although it may seem counterproductive, both the NCAA and the World Anti-Doping Agency specifically ban alcohol in rifle events. To ensure compliance, competitors are subject to random testing. Other banned substances include beta-blockers, which are prescribed to patients with heart conditions. In 2008, North Korean air pistol shooter Kim Jong-su was disqualified from the Beijing Olympics after testing positive for the beta-blocker Propranolol.
7. Blackouts
A common and unpleasant consequence of excessive drinking is blackouts, a form of memory loss. There are two types of blackouts: 'fragmentary' (which last for a few minutes) and 'en bloc' (which can last much longer). Contrary to what many believe, blackouts are not directly caused by the amount of alcohol consumed, but rather by the speed at which it's consumed. You might drink beer steadily all evening without experiencing a blackout, but knocking back several tequila shots quickly could likely result in one.
Blackouts occur when alcohol blocks receptors in the hippocampus part of the brain. It's not that people forget what happens during a blackout—it’s that their brains never actually record the events in the first place. Some individuals may be more prone to blackouts due to their genetic makeup and brain chemistry. Frequent blackouts are not only frightening but can also signal potential long-term brain damage.
6. Persia
It’s well known that alcohol can dramatically affect cognitive functions. When intoxicated, the mind often takes creative leaps that would seem far-fetched when sober. While this might sometimes lead to embarrassing situations, it can also spark some intriguing ideas. In his famous work, Histories, the Greek historian Herodotus mentioned how the Persians would deliberate over important matters while switching between states of drunkenness and sobriety.
Herodotus described: “It is their common practice to discuss serious issues while intoxicated, and then, the next day when they are sober, the master of the house presents the decision made the previous night to see if it still holds. If it’s approved, they proceed; if not, it’s discarded. On occasion, they might start sober but always revisit the issue after drinking wine.”
Herodotus passed away over 2,400 years ago, and some of his accounts have been questioned. Voltaire, for instance, famously labeled him 'The Father of Lies.' Nevertheless, the notion that the Persians resolved their dilemmas while drunk on wine remains an appealing thought.
5. Intelligence
Numerous studies from the US and UK conducted over the past fifty years have revealed an intriguing phenomenon: the more intelligent a person is, the greater their tendency to engage in heavy drinking. At first, one might assume that external factors such as a high-paying job or social status might explain this, but after considering variables like age, gender, income, religion, education, and race, researchers consistently concluded that intelligence itself plays a central role in this behavior. The link between intelligence and alcohol consumption is striking, with highly intelligent individuals showing a higher likelihood of binge drinking.
While the precise reason for this remains unclear, there are many examples of brilliant individuals in various fields who struggled with alcohol. Figures such as the writer Ernest Hemingway, the painter Vincent Van Gogh, the British leader Winston Churchill, and the composer Tchaikovsky were all notorious for their excessive drinking.
4. Purim
Alcohol is often enjoyed during many holidays, though only a few actually mandate its consumption. Purim, a Jewish festival observed on the 14th or 15th day of Adar (which usually falls around mid-March on the Gregorian calendar), commemorates an event from the Old Testament Book of Esther. It tells the story of the Jews' deliverance from a plot to annihilate them, orchestrated by Haman, a royal advisor to King Ahasuerus (widely believed by historians to be King Xerxes I). Haman's scheme is thwarted by Mordecai and his adopted daughter, Esther.
The holiday is marked by a grand feast known as the 'Seudat Purim,' where wine flows freely in large quantities. According to the Talmud, 'Rava said: A person is obligated to drink on Purim until they no longer distinguish between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordecai.' ' The exact amount of alcohol involved is a topic of debate among scholars. On the whole, Jews are not typically known for heavy drinking, partly due to a widespread shortage of ADH among them.
3. Tiny Toons
Tiny Toon Adventures was a popular children's television show that aired in the early 1990s. It brought a fresh twist to the classic Looney Tunes series by featuring younger versions of the beloved characters, now attending school. The episodes were mostly light-hearted and occasionally addressed moral issues like bullying or cheating on tests. However, one particular episode, titled 'One Beer,' took a much darker direction.
In this episode, Buster, Plucky, and Hamton (the young versions of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig) discover a single bottle of beer in the fridge. They sneak it out of the house and drink it at a nearby park. After just a small sip each, they all quickly become intoxicated. The episode follows their downward spiral into drunken despair. They end up homeless and even steal a police car, leading to tragic consequences. In the final moments, it is revealed that the entire plot was a public service announcement aimed at warning kids that drinking is uncool.
The episode, which first aired on September 18, 1991, was eventually banned due to its controversial subject matter. Despite this, it has been included in DVD releases and is still shown in reruns.
2. How To Drink Without Getting Drunk (Maybe)
Under typical conditions, the human body can metabolize a single unit of alcohol in about an hour—equivalent to around 355 milliliters (12 oz) of beer or 44 milliliters (1.5 oz) of hard liquor. Drinking faster than this rate will inevitably lead to intoxication. The popular belief is that only time can sober someone up (not even hot coffee or cold showers are effective). However, Jim Koch disagrees with this idea. As the co-founder and chairman of the Boston Beer Company, which brews Samuel Adams beer, Koch is considered an expert in the field.
Koch discovered from Dr. Joseph Owades, who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, that consuming brewer's yeast before drinking can dramatically boost one's alcohol tolerance. While working at Fleischmann’s, Owades found that active yeast contains a high amount of the enzyme ADH. The idea is that consuming a teaspoon of yeast for each drink you plan to have will help your body metabolize the alcohol more quickly. Owades even patented a pill called Prequel, designed to reduce alcohol’s effects. However, no company was willing to take on the legal risks of marketing such a product. Yeast is unpleasant on its own, but mixing it with flavored yogurt, as Koch does, makes it more tolerable.
It’s not surprising that the idea of yeast helping to counteract alcohol's effects has been met with significant skepticism. Some food scientists argue that Koch’s ability to drink so heavily is likely due to the bodily tolerance he’s built up over years of drinking.
1. Walking Drunk
Drunk driving is one of the most severely punished crimes, and for good reason. In the U.S., 13,000 people lose their lives in alcohol-related car accidents every year. Walking, therefore, might seem like a much safer option than getting behind the wheel. But according to Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner of Superfreakonomics, walking while drunk is actually eight times more dangerous than driving. Their conclusions, based on a lot of assumptions, have been criticized as pseudoscience and sparked considerable backlash when first introduced.
When it comes to walking drunk, the danger is mostly to the person who’s intoxicated themselves, but driving carries the potential to endanger many others. Setting aside moral issues, it's an unsettling perspective few would have considered before. Walking becomes extremely risky for someone whose sense of balance and judgment is impaired—slipping on ice, falling down stairs, or impulsively running across a busy road are all real dangers.
