First, you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you.

—F. Scott Fitzgerald 

In modern times, we often enjoy a drink now & then with friends or at a party!
While we do things out of our habit, we try to incorporate such practices into our lives &
reach a point where we really can’t stop to think about it. Such is the tale of consuming
alcohol.
Contrary to the common belief that there are known health benefits of alcohol when taken
in limited quantities, there is also a study which reveals, “No amount of alcohol is good for
your health.”
Most Indians savour Indian-made foreign liquor – whiskey, rum, vodka, gin & br&y
(42.5% alcohol content); country liquor (desi sharab – 33%), beer (5-8%) & flavoured
alcoholic beverages. With the rise of heavy drinking among newer generations; it has
become very important to draw a line between low & heavy consumption. It is also
crucial to underst& that measuring a drink is not enough; there are genes, diet, weight
& other social histories involved in alcohol uptake. In today’s world, it is very difficult to
avoid drinking completely.

Even though following a healthy diet is under control, there are drinks where we lose!
Choosing the right drink with fewer calories can keep you on a healthy track. One
should prefer low-calorie drinks like wine, champagne, vodka-soda etc. It is best to avoid
cocktails as they contain sugars, syrups, & juices that account for maximum calories.
Prefer diet coke or soda as a beverage along with a drink as it contains zero calories.

One can consume one drink per week in the following quantities:

• Beer …………….……… 330ml (1can) …………………. [153kcal]
• Brandy …………..…… 60ml …………………………….. [120kcal]
• Gin ……………………. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]
• Rum ………………….. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]
• Vodka …….………….. 60ml …………………………….. [130kcal]
• Whiskey……………….. 60ml ………………………….. [130kcal]

Food portion control is another important thing while taking those shots! A drink followed
by a healthy snack to munch on & a wholesome dinner helps in combating dehydration
& dietary deficiencies which lead to health complications in the long run.

One can munch on any two of the following side dishes alongside drinks:

• A bowl of boiled or roasted peanuts/ unsalted chana/ boiled chana/ corn or chickpea chaat/ stir-fry veggies
• A bowl of salad sticks + 2 tbsp dips or hummus
• Two small pieces of paneer/ tofu/ chicken (either tikka, fried or grilled)
• A bowl of Greek/ Green/ Caesar salad (with veggies or chicken)
• Two pieces of poached egg whites/ roasted chicken or tikka or kebabs

Dinner options should include any one of the following:

• A Tawa roti with dal tadka
• One paneer Kathi/ soya Kathi/chicken Kathi/ tikka roll
• A bowl of veg biryani/ dal khichdi/ pulav/ chicken biryani with a bowl of raita
• A bowl of whole wheat pasta/ noodles (with veggies or chicken)

Even though alcohol is a slow killer, consuming it in moderate amounts helps us in
different ways.

Benefits of low alcohol use:

• Relieves stress & leaves a soothing effect
• Can be used as a flavouring agent
• Decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Prevents gallstones

Too much of a bad thing can affect our st&ard of living irreversibly. That is
why, we need to manipulate our alcohol dependency today, for a better tomorrow. By
being physically & mentally fit, one can circumvent the long-term effects of drinking &
it is easy to do that. We need to focus more on what we eat, how much we drink & how
much we exercise/ engage in any physical activity. The impact of good nutrition is
immense. Working on it each day keeps us in good health.