Spending a night at a bar with friends can help to maintain social skills, but is spending the night drinking beneficial to one’s health?
A recent Japanese study found that moderate to light alcohol consumption along with high levels of social support was linked to lowering the rates of heart disease and stroke. However, researchers stress that “light” alcohol consumption (up to 299 grams of alcohol per week) is key. Heavier drinking, more than 300 grams of alcohol per week, was found to increase the risk of stroke.
Jill Siegfried, Director of Student Fitness and Wellness at Lewis, believes that the results of the study are inconclusive. Siegfried believes that mixing socialization with alcohol consumption could lead an individual down a “slippery slope.”
“There are studies that show how drinking excessively can increase your risk of cardiovascular problems. The quest for a healthier heart, a few drinks and socialization can easily turn into binge drinking to forget about the stress in your life,” said Siegfried.
Shelley Maxwell, a 21-year-old Education major agrees with Siegfried. “I do not think that most people my age just go out and have a few drinks. When my friends go out, they go out to get drunk. I think the study applies to a slightly older crowd,” said Maxwell.
Although Siegfried believes that social support and alcohol are not always the best combination, she agrees that socialization is an important part of life. “We all need the support of family and friends in our quest for maintaining our health. Socialization is very beneficial for our inner development-personally and professionally. High levels of social support have been proven to lower the risk of heart disease and stroke,” said Siegfried.
According to Siegfried, social support is needed throughout every stage of life. “The need starts at a young age, and it doesn’t change much throughout. I think it is important for college students to have a good social support system on campus and at home. Social support helps us to maintain our balance. It is a good opportunity to build and fine tune your interpersonal skills. Individuals need strong social support in [both] good times and bad,” said Siegfried.
Karolin Dilger, a 22-year-old Nursing major, believes that moderate alcohol consumption and a social setting can complement one another. “When I spend a night socializing with friends at a bar, I feel happy. It is almost as if I get an adrenaline rush from the anticipation of a night out. Most of the time, I anticipate having that night out with my friends during the week. This helps motivate me to work through all of the difficult days during the week,” said Dilger.
Although Maxwell is apprehensive about applying the study to college students, she believes that a night out can be beneficial to someone who is responsible. “A night out can definitely help, but you just have to be careful not to go overboard,” said Maxwell.
Above all, Siegfried stresses that individuals should act in responsible manners. “Drinking, smoking, using drugs, eating excessively and not exercising are all personal choices. There are many individuals who simply choose not to drink. If a student is over the legal drinking age, they should be able to behave in a responsible manner,” said Siegfried.
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