Drinking and Health
Drinking and Health
Alcohol refers to the general term for baijiu, huangjiu, beer, wine, and other beverages made by fermenting sorghum, barley, rice, grapes, or other fruits to produce ethanol.
Due to its fragrant aroma and smooth taste, moderate consumption induces a sense of dizziness, pleasure, and excitement, promoting blood circulation. Thus, when people feel depressed or burdened, they often drink to relieve sorrow (dizziness); during festive occasions, they freely enjoy drinks to enhance celebratory atmosphere (pleasure and excitement); on cold, snowy nights, sipping half a cup warms the entire body (promoting blood circulation). Therefore, alcohol has become one of the most beloved beverages worldwide. The great Tang poet Li Bai was known as the "Immortal of Wine"; the Song dynasty scholar Ouyang Xiu called himself the "Drunkard," a legend passed down through generations.
However, history records many cases where excessive drinking harmed health and shortened life. Even this famed "Wine Immortal" Li Bai drowned after attempting to catch the moon reflected in water while drunk. The poet Bai Juyi, who loved drinking heavily, often drank until unconsciousness, resulting in "alcohol illness affecting all limbs" by age 40, with his poetic output declining significantly. The genius writer Cao Xueqin, also an avid drinker, died young at only 40, and his wife wrote in mourning: "I blame no hardship, but Du Kang."
Thus, for thousands of years, is drinking beneficial or harmful? Is it praised or condemned? Opinions have long been divided.
The Yuan Dynasty's *Yinshan Zhengyao* already detailed the relationship between alcohol and health: "Alcohol can dispel evil spirits, promote blood flow, strengthen the stomach and intestines, and eliminate worries," but must be consumed "in moderation"—if used as a daily beverage, it inevitably harms spirit and shortens lifespan. In the Ming Dynasty, Li Shizhen’s *Bencao Gangmu* states: "Alcohol is extremely hot and toxic." "Moderate drinking benefits blood circulation; prolonged drinking causes spiritual damage and premature aging."
Excessive drinking may lead to facial flushing, mental disturbances, incoherent speech, unsteady gait, and in some cases, loss of reason and violent behavior such as assault or destruction of property. Severe cases may result in fainting or coma. Chronic drinkers risk chronic poisoning, digestive issues, nutritional deficiencies, cognitive decline, hand tremors, polyneuritis, and even liver cirrhosis. At toxic levels, alcohol suppresses brainstem centers; without timely intervention, acute poisoning can be fatal.
Clearly, moderate drinking does not harm health, but elderly individuals—due to weakened constitution and poor digestive function—are better off avoiding alcohol entirely. Long-term heavy or excessive drinking clearly damages health.