For many years, addictions have been one of society’s main problems. And although alcohol is socially accepted, like tobacco in most parts of the world, it is still extremely harmful to health. Researchers have discovered an effective method to get people to drink less alcohol: highlighting the increased risk of cancer associated with consumption and combining this with counting each drink. Let’s expand on this idea.
Participants were divided into groups and shown different ads and messages about alcohol
For the study, three surveys were completed: 7,995 people completed the first, 4,588 of those people completed the second three weeks later, and 2,687 people completed the final survey three weeks later. Participants were divided into groups and shown different ads and messages about alcohol consumption. We cannot deny that advertising has always served to “manipulate” consumer opinion, that is, to make them lean toward one idea or another.
The combination of “why to cut down” and “how to cut down” messages can be helpful
It turns out that a particular combination of “why to cut down” and “how to cut down” messages can be helpful in promoting good health in a population, researchers found in a 2021 study. The thing is, in the research, one combination stood out, compared to the control group: A TV ad linking alcohol to cancer, along with a suggestion to keep track of drinks, was one of the most effective in getting people to try to cut down on alcohol.
The volunteers who watched a combination of both studies reduced their alcohol consumption the most
The danger is exposed and a challenge is posed. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption can be attributed to up to 7 percent of premature deaths worldwide, and making drinkers more aware of the health risks is one way to address that problem. Whether only the danger of alcohol was discussed or drink counting was proposed, the benefits were not the same. It was the volunteers who watched a combination of both studies who reduced their alcohol consumption the most.
To know the risks and the ingredients of the beverage they’re consuming
“Many people don’t know that alcohol is a carcinogen – it’s important information that drinkers should have access to. But telling people alcohol causes cancer is just part of the solution – we also need to give them ways to take action to reduce their risk,” said Professor Simone Pettigrew from The George Institute for Global Health. Sometimes all an individual needs to avoid falling into vices is to be informed. To know the risks and the ingredients of the beverage they’re consuming.
What happens to our bodies when we consume alcohol and take a flight?
Several studies have been conducted regarding the dangers of alcoholic beverages. One of them, for example, analyzes what happens to our bodies when we consume alcohol and take a flight. Obviously, the pressure we subject our bodies to during a flight isn’t the same as if we’re standing on the ground, so the variations were significant.
A study was conducted in which young, healthy individuals were divided into groups drinking the equivalent of two cans of beer or two glasses of wine. One group was during a flight, and the other at normal blood pressure. Overall, the findings suggest that under airplane cabin conditions, blood oxygen was lower and heart rate was higher than in the control group, and these effects were even greater among those who consumed alcohol.
Ultimately, what these studies tell us is that, like anything harmful to health, too much can be lethal. Therefore, it’s recommended to be mindful of what we eat and drink and use it responsibly.
