The DKFZ’s Alcohol Atlas covers just about everything – from types of alcohol and spirits production to health damage and acts of violence under the influence of alcohol. A separate subchapter is devoted to alcohol dependence – and an entire chapter is then called “Extent of alcohol consumption and its health consequences.
Did you know how alcohol is metabolized? In the atlas you can read such files: ” Metabolism begins before the alcohol enters the bloodstream – this occurs largely in the stomach wall and only to a small extent in the liver. In this so-called first-pass metabolism, less than ten percent of the alcohol is broken down. First-pass metabolism is more active in low alcohol intake, regular alcohol consumption, full stomach and intact gastric mucosa; on the other hand, it is less pronounced in older people and long-term high alcohol consumption. The remaining alcohol, about 90 percent, is metabolized in the liver.”
Of particular interest for this chapter is subchapter 3.9 – Alcohol consumption and social status: “Among adults, a clear correlation between social status and frequency of alcohol consumption emerges in all age groups, as it is more common in higher social classes than in lower ones. For example, about 70 percent of high social status men consume alcohol at least once a week, about 60 percent of middle social status men, and only about 50 percent of low social status men.”
