As the summer season kicks into high gear, many of us look forward to enjoying outdoor activities and relaxing with a refreshing drink. For some, a refreshing drink is synonymous with an alcoholic beverage. BACtrack Mobile and BACtrack Vio Smartphone Breathalyzers have been tracking alcohol consumption to understand annual drinking trends. Their data has provided some interesting insights regarding summer drinking trends.
Six key insights include:
- The Summer Solstice and July 4th emerge as the booziest days of summer, with an average Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.082%.
- Over 47% of days throughout the summer months (June, July, and August) exhibit an average BAC above 0.060%, which is higher than the national average throughout the year.
- Saturdays dominate the list of the 13 biggest drinking days of summer, with average BACs ranging from 0.075% to 0.082%.
- Americans drink the most in June, with an average BAC of 0.066%, while July and August tie with an average BAC of 0.063%.
- Five summer days surpass the legal limit of 0.080% for average BAC: June 7, June 14, June 21, July 3, and July 4.
- Tuesday, August 5th claims the top spot of the most sober days of summer with the lowest average BAC, registering at 0.034%. It is closely followed by Monday, July 21st, with an average BAC of 0.039%.
Alcohol has a significant impact on global health and society. In the United States, alcohol ranks the fourth leading risk factor for premature death with more than 140,000 people (approximately 97,000 men and 43,000 women) who die from alcohol related causes. While, the first is tobacco, the second is poor diet and physical inactivity, and the third is illegal drugs. The harm associated with alcohol consumption encompass various conditions, including coronary heart disease, cancer, tuberculosis, motor vehicle accidents, liver cirrhosis, and suicide. Injuries, in general, contribute the most to the overall burden attributed to alcohol. The volume of drinking shows specific dose-response relationships with most disease outcomes.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a statement in The Lancet Public Health Journal, emphasizing that no amount of alcohol is safe for our health. They highlight that alcohol is not merely a beverage; it is a toxic and dependence-producing substance. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen decades ago, placing it in the highest risk group alongside asbestos, radiation, and tobacco. Regardless of the quality or price of the beverage, the compound ethanol found in alcohol breaks down in the body, posing a risk of developing cancer. Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for at least seven types of cancer, including bowel and breast cancer. The new WHO statement clarifies that currently available evidence cannot identify a point at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol “switch off.”
The drinking patterns adopted by individuals also play a crucial role on health and society. More specifically, heavy episodic drinking has been linked to coronary heart disease, motor vehicle accidents, suicide, and other injuries. While moderate drinking may have cardiovascular benefits for some individuals, it has also been associated with an increased risk of cancer and other diseases. In addition to health risks, alcohol consumption extends its impact on a wide range of social problems. While a direct causal link between alcohol consumption and violence is plausible, the relationship becomes more intricate when considering issues such as divorce, child abuse, and work-related problems. Alcohol-related crime, domestic violence, family dysfunction, traffic accidents, and workplace issues are examples of negative impacts that affect not only the drinker but also others in society. Furthermore, disadvantaged and vulnerable populations are particularly affected, as the harms of alcohol are more pronounced for poorer individuals and their families. It is crucial to recognize the broader impact of alcohol harm on societies and take action, as it is clear that alcohol contributes significantly to both social and health burdens.
In order to address this significant health concern, experts posit that we need comprehensive strategies to raise awareness about the health concerns. Some examples outlined to raise awareness include: labeling alcoholic beverages with cancer-related health information, similar to tobacco products, and empowering and equipping healthcare professionals to educate their patients about the risks of alcohol and cancer. In 2019 the National Institute of Health launched the Rethink Drinking campaign. This website serves as a valuable, research-based information hub for the public to assess their drinking habits and to understand how they may be affecting their health.
As we work to raise public awareness on the impacts of alcohol use. More and more people are becoming conscious drinkers. Being a conscious drinker means being mindful and intentional about your relationship with alcohol. It involves having an awareness of how alcohol affects your body, mind, and overall well-being, and making conscious choices regarding your alcohol consumption. Outlined below are 8 key aspects of conscious drinkers.