There's no doubt that booze is a big part of Brits' lives, but if you're thinking about how much you drink or considering giving it up altogether - it turns out there's a good age to pack in it by, with doctors advising on how quickly your liver repairs.
The NHS says that alcohol misuse is when you drink in a way that's harmful, or when you're dependent on alcohol.
Addiction is, of course, a real thing and there's no shame in admitting that you're finding it hard to stop, or that you're a borderline alcoholic.
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In 2021 alone, 49 percent of UK adults drank alcohol on at least one day per week, which isn't necessarily bad.
But if it gets to a stage where you feel like you need to give up drinking entirely, then there's often a certain amount of time it can take for your liver to repair itself.
How long it will take for the liver to naturally repair itself from alcohol abuse
Doctor Lance Stein, a transplant hepatologist at Piedmont Transplant, explains that alcohol is a toxin to the liver, which can cause a lot of internal damage.
He said: “When alcohol, or ethanol, reaches the liver, the cells of the liver have enzymes that help with the digestion and processing of alcohol.
“When alcohol then reaches the blood, that’s when you feel the effects of alcohol.
“As the liver is processing alcohol, it can damage the liver’s enzymes, which can lead to cell death.
“As with any damage to any cell of any organ, there is always a process of healing.”
Dr Stein explained that ‘if the damage to the liver has been long-term, it may not be reversible’, but for most people, your liver might be able to start healing as early as a few days to a few weeks.
At what age should you consider quitting alcohol completely?
While giving up something you've done for all of your adult life sounds extremely difficult, there's one good reason why it might be worthwhile, according to The Alzheimer's Society.
Removing booze from your life, can help prevent the development of dementia.
Dr Richard Restak, author of How to Prevent Dementia: An Expert’s Guide to Long-Term Brain Health, wrote: "Ask yourself, ‘why do I drink?’ If the answer is ‘because alcohol helps me to elevate my mood and lower my anxiety,’ you may be at some peril, and it’s probably best to stop altogether.
“I strongly suggest that if you are 65 years old or older, that you completely and permanently eliminate alcohol from your diet."
Dementia UK explains: "Alcohol related brain damage (also known as alcohol related brain impairment) is caused by drinking alcohol excessively over a prolonged period of time.
"It can be caused by a combination of reasons including vitamin B1 deficiency (thiamine), the toxic effects of alcohol on nerve cells, head injury and blood vessel damage."
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support.
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, Mental Health
Anish Vij