The sort of alcohol that is used in drinks (ethyl alcohol) is made by fermenting various substances. The most common ones are grain (e.g. beer, whiskey) and fruit (e.g. wine, cider).Others include potatoes (vodka) and honey (mead). Ethanol is a drug which depresses or slows down the activity of the central nervous system. Alcohol is classed as a sedative hypnotic along with barbiturates and minor tranquillizers. No one can say exactly how much alcohol will affect you or how quickly. Your body’s reaction to alcohol is affected by your age, weight, sex, body chemistry, fitness, use of medicines and other drugs, and whether you have food in your stomach. Men can generally drink more than women before reaching the same blood alcohol level.

Alcohol is broken down and metabolised in the liver. It is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and intestine into the bloodstream. As it does not need to be digested, the process is rapid. Once in the bloodstream the alcohol is rapidly distributed throughout the body (including the brain) and it changes in some way the function of each cell that it enters. These reactions break down the alcohol to less harmful substances but there is a limit to their capacity. When the liver is presented with too much alcohol to handle, its own cells can be altered, first chemically, and then physically. The most serious outcome is a permanently scarred liver, known as cirrhosis. People who are borderline cirrhotic or have cirrhosis are advised to stop drinking altogether.

For people with hepatitis, alcohol intake should be carefully monitored. If you enjoy the odd drop and you are not cirrhotic it is recommended to stick with no more than one standard drink a day. It is also recommended to have two or three alcohol free days per week.

If you are considering hepatitis C treatment or are currently on treatment, the amount of alcohol you drink is also likely to affect your response to hepatitis C treatment. The less alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to respond to your treatment.

Don’t drink your weeks worth in one go!! Avoid binging!!

If your GGT level (in liver function test) is up, this may be due to excessive alcohol consumption, medication use or a bile duct related problem. If GGT is high it is advisable to stop drinking. It doesn’t matter what kind of alcohol you consume, it is the concentration/percentage of alcohol contained in your drink that counts. A standard drink contains about 10gms of pure alcohol, which equals a pint of light beer (425m), a schooner of regular beer (285ml), a glass of wine (100ml), a small glass of port or sherry (60ml) or a nip of spirits or liqueurs (30ml).

Some people with Hepatitis C report feeling violently ill after drinking large quantities. This is a clear indication that their liver cannot tolerate large amounts of alcohol. Many people cease to use alcohol because of the way they feel after consuming it. Observe yourself, if you’re feeling quite affected by alcohol then reduce your intake or stop it completely.

If you need assistance to reduce your drinking or to stop altogether you can get professional advice by phoning the Alcohol and Drug Information Service on 131340.
The alcohol in herbal medicines (tinctures or fluid extracts) is not sufficient to cause the liver a problem. Ironically St Mary’s Thistle, which regenerates and restores liver cells, requires approximately 50% alcohol to exert the hepatoprotective properties.

Ultimately, the decision as to whether to drink and how much, is yours