Can drinking alcohol be beneficial?

A few weeks ago, while I was preparing for my college interview, I came across an interesting case study, according to which the abstainers who are under the risk of any cardiovascular disease are recommended to drink low amounts of alcohol, i. e. one to three standard drinks a week. This information surprised me, as throughout my whole childhood, I was taught by my parents and teachers about the negative impact of alcohol on a human’s organism and especially his brain. For this reason, I have decided to study this topic in depth and reveal the truth about the real effects of drinking. 

Wine tends to get most of the attention when it comes to the health benefits of alcohol. It is primarily due to the French Paradox, a reference to the relatively low death rate among the French community, despite a diet rich in saturated fat. As a consequence of this relation, it was assumed that the lifespan of the French is particularly long due to the fact that the great part of them tends to drink moderate amounts of wine. This particular case encouraged a number of scientists to perform studies on the impact of alcohol on human’s health. The results were surprising, as they showed that the lowest mortality rate is at around 0.5 to 1 alcohol units per day. Moreover, moderate drinking turned out to be beneficial for the people at an increased risk for some heart diseases (which complies with the case study presented in the introduction). However, when it comes to all other diseases, alcohol does not show protective properties, regardless of its quantity. Still, it should be remembered that cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of deaths in the whole world, especially in the developed countries. Additionally, red wine contains a very strong anti-oxidant named resveratrol which has been shown to lengthen the lifespan of mice and particular yeast cells. This fact may explain the French paradox, although it has not yet been conclusively proven and requires further research. More importantly, there are numerous alternatives to red wine which are rich in resveratrol. Fruit, especially grapes, which provide the natural source of this compound, can be consumed instead of wine, which prevents possible harm caused by the aforementioned alcoholic drink, such as an increased risk of cancer and the “shrinkage” of the brain. 

Damage to the brain caused by alcohol is the primary factor which should always be considered before drinking. Some of the impairments such as blurred vision, slurred speech or slow reaction times obviously resolve when drinking stops. On the other hand, a person who drinks over a long period of time may have brain deficits that persist well after he or she achieves sobriety. Drinking may have extensive and far-reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple slips in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions which require permanent care. Of course, the severity of those outcomes greatly depends on the quantity of alcohol drunk, the age of a person, his education or even his social status. However, recent studies have shown that even an average person who drinks moderate amounts of alcohol (such as one or two pints of beer a day) is under a greater risk of cognitive impairment at an old age than those who don’t drink at all or just drink occasionally. Therefore, a person who cares for his/her brain capacity and is not recommended to drink moderately due to some cardiovascular disorders, should attempt to drink as low amounts of alcohol as possible or even completely abstain from drinking. 

Moreover, according to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention, drinking any type of alcoholic drinks increases your risk of getting six kinds of cancer: mouth and throat; voice box; esophagus; colon and rectum; liver and breast (in women). It is due to the fact that human’s body breaks down alcohol into the molecule named acetaldehyde which damages your DNA and prevents your body from repairing the damage. When DNA is damaged, the cell may begin to uncontrollably grow and create a cancer tumor. 

In conclusion, basing upon the aforementioned information about the impact of alcohol on human’s body, there is no doubt that drinking may irreversibly damage your brain or even kill you by causing cancer. However, it also shows some benefits given that a person is under a risk for some cardiovascular diseases. It also contains a compound named resveratrol which may prolong a person’s life. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that all those benefits would positively impact our lives only when we drank responsibly. Of course, drinking is an inseparable element of the Western culture. All human beings are social creatures and alcohol is what facilitates making connections with the others. Since early ancient times, most of our ancestors would probably spend entire evenings in taverns. However, our generation has a wide access to the resources showing that drinking in excess is detrimental. The main message of this article therefore is: Always drink responsibly! (Given that you are an adult; otherwise, don’t drink at all). 

A historical debate: The change in the balance of power in Europe between 1871 and 1900

World War I, the very first global military conflict, had a plethora of causes, both short-term and long-term. One of them was deeply rooted in a peculiar political and socio-economic process of 19th century Europe, albeit one that is sometimes omitted in the discussion about the War. It is the change in the balance of power widely established by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which was not only characterized by fluctuations between the existing Great Powers, but also by the emergence of new ones (such as Germany and Italy). Even though some countries tried to preserve the status quo, in 1900 Europe was nowhere where it had been only 29 years earlier.

The creation of the unified German and Italian states radically changed the geopolitical situation on the continent. Now, the territorial heart of Europe was occupied by an economically strong and ethnically homogenous country. Furthermore, its Chancellor, von Bismarck, was an ambitious and experienced man, who could transform the country into a global power. ‘Old’ European empires (such as the United Kingdom, France, and Russia) were disturbed by the fact that Germany was far more powerful than Prussia had been. The unification of Italy in 1859 further contributed to the breakup of the post-Napoleonic balance of power, but its impact was relatively less important. The newly-established state was dealing with economic problems and deep internal divisions, so it was not as powerful as Germany was.

Using the economic and military strength of the country he was leading, Bismarck tried to redefine the existing balance of power in Europe. His foreign policy was solely based on diplomatic effort and aimed at keeping the continent away from the perspective of war. From then on, whenever a dispute arose, Germany was to act as a ‘broker’ between the Great Powers (especially Russia and Austria-Hungary). Another feature of Bismarck’s policy was the isolation of France. By doing so, Germany tried to prevent the threat of a “two-front war”. However, these efforts came to an end when Wilhelm II took power as Kaiser in 1890. He decided to pursue an aggressive policy of global expansion, known as the ‘Weltpolitik’.

The change in the balance of power was further characterized by the emergence of the alliance system. Even though the web of alliances created by Bismarck (e.g. Dreikaiserbund or the Three Emperors’ Alliance of 1881) aimed at preserving the ‘Holy Alliance’, it differed significantly from its predecessor. The situation in the Balkans was a bone of contention between Russia and Austria-Hungary, therefore, the cooperation between the two was difficult. Moreover, with the onset of ‘Weltpolitik’, the United Kingdom and France began to perceive Germany as a threat to their interests. The situation was particularly exceptional for the UK, which decided to end the ‘splendid isolation’ and engage in the affairs of the continent. These factors, along with the annulation of the German-Russian Reinsurance Treaty, gave rise to the creation of the Triple Entente.

The balance of power changed dramatically between 1871 and 1900. Multiple factors contributed to the process, be they the emergence of new regional powers, attempts to redefine the status quo in Europe, and the creation of the alliance system. It could be argued that that change had a lasting impact on the outbreak of the First World War, as it contributed to tensions between the Great Powers. In 1900, the post-Napoleonic order was practically non-existent and none of the key political players on the Old Continent strived to keep or revive it.