Excessive alcohol consumption cost the U.S. $223.5 billion in 2006 alone, and nearly half of that burden was borne by the government, according to a new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Do People Really Drink More When the Economy Tanks?
A new study suggests that in hard economic times, people drink more alcohol. Intuitively, it might make sense, but the findings run counter to most previous research, which shows that alcoholism and other drinking-related …
Status: Drunk. Can Facebook Posts Help ID Problem Drinkers?
The next time some blustery college kid boasts on Facebook about how wasted he was last night, don’t just roll your eyes. He may be telegraphing he’s got a drinking problem, according to research published Monday in the Archives …
In the Wake of Amy Winehouse’s Death, a Spotlight on the Deadliness of Alcohol
While rumors continue to fly about what killed Amy Winehouse — the latest suggest that crack and heroin may have been involved — the singer’s parents continue to maintain that she was sober when she died, and that in fact, …
Happy Hour? ‘Wet Houses’ Allow Alcoholics to Drink, With Surprising Results
It sounds like an alcoholic’s vision of heaven: a free place to live, paid expenses (mostly), and an ample supply of booze. But the reality of “wet houses” for homeless alcoholics looks more like hell, even as these programs — …
A Bad Mix: Why Alcohol and Energy Drinks Are Dangerous
Mixing alcohol with other substances is never really a good idea, and pairing it with energy drinks may be especially hazardous.
Study: Do Early Drinkers Become Heavy Drinkers?
Boasting about how young you were when you had your first full drink (sips at the dinner table from Mom or Dad’s wine glass don’t count) may be fun when you’re in college, but researchers say the age at which you have your first …
To Quench Your Thirst, Reach for Tea Instead of Water
Thirsty? You might want to consider a steaming cup of tea. In a survey of existing research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the authors report that not only does tea rehydrate and quench your thirst as …
Still Hungover? How to Tell if Your Drinking Is Really a Problem
(Updated) Almost everyone drinks too much on New Year’s Eve — which is why AA members (and future members) often scorn it as amateur’s night. But how do you know when you’ve turned from being a “moderate” drinker to a dangerous one?
Even Small Amounts of Holiday Drinking Boost Cancer Risk
More evidence for the conventional wisdom of “everything in moderation”: even a small increase in alcohol intake can up the risk of several different kinds of cancer, according to researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in …
Cheers! Could Hypoallergenic Wine Be on the Horizon?
As food allergens go, wine is easier to avoid than, say, wheat. But there are some 500 million people worldwide — that’s about 8% — who will have to sit out toasts this holiday season because of wine allergies.
4 Reasons Binge Drinking Is a Public Health Problem
One out of 3 adults and 2 out of 3 high school students who drink alcohol binge drink, according to recent government surveys. Startlingly, the data suggest that 90% of the alcohol consumed by high-school kids and more than half …
Study O.K.’s Light Drinking During Pregnancy. Too Good to Be True?
A glass of wine or two a week — and not more than one large glass on any occasion — may be safe during pregnancy, according to a large study just published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.