4 ms·

Likewise. I think it's true for a lot of people. Its why pregnant women are told not to drink alcohol at all. The reality is that the liver is amazing and can

Likewise. I think it's true for a lot of people. Its why pregnant women are told not to drink alcohol at all. The reality is that the liver is amazing and can remove low levels of it so well that a small amount of drinking is fine. The problem is that it's really hard to a) effectively communicate what the safe level is b) get people to stick to it. It's much easier to avoid it entirely.

gvjddbnvdrbv 6y ago
I've literally measured a glass of wine for someone who then told me the measure must be wrong rather than admit they had always drunk three glasses rather than one. (Person was not pregnant and is not someone that would be described in any way as having problems with alcohol.)
- ubercow13 6y ago
  Well 'glass' is an entirely arbitrary measure and until they have looked it up in mililitres it's not clear why anyone would know how much it is. I don't. I think public health advice about drinking should stick to more concrete terms.
  - smohare 6y ago
    It’s really not though. The standard understanding is that a 750ml bottle consists of five 150ml (or 5oz) glasses of wine. Calling that amount a “glass” perhaps is unfortunate, but it is convenient and well understood by most. But then again, I’ve also never known anyone who claimed that their 375ml pours were a “glass”. That just strikes me more as ignorance.
andi999 6y ago
Well, it has to be in the blood first to get metabolized by the liver, so the unborn gets some. But as you say, a little wont probably matter. I was shocked how big an effect licoriice has (finnish study), before I read the stud, I thought they found something signific but not relevant. Reading the study changed my perspective and i am wondering why there are no warning labels
- mft_ 6y ago
  Everything absorbed by the gut goes through the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation. This doesn’t necessarily invalidate your overall point (that a foetus may be exposed to some alcohol, as it depends on how efficient the first-pass metabolism of alcohol is) but it does impact your logic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_pass_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_pass_effect
  - andi999 6y ago
    I didnt know. This is fascinating. Thanks for pointing it out.

gvjddbnvdrbv 6y ago

I've literally measured a glass of wine for someone who then told me the measure must be wrong rather than admit they had always drunk three glasses rather than one. (Person was not pregnant and is not someone that would be described in any way as having problems with alcohol.)

ubercow13 6y ago
Well 'glass' is an entirely arbitrary measure and until they have looked it up in mililitres it's not clear why anyone would know how much it is. I don't. I think public health advice about drinking should stick to more concrete terms.
- smohare 6y ago
  It’s really not though. The standard understanding is that a 750ml bottle consists of five 150ml (or 5oz) glasses of wine. Calling that amount a “glass” perhaps is unfortunate, but it is convenient and well understood by most. But then again, I’ve also never known anyone who claimed that their 375ml pours were a “glass”. That just strikes me more as ignorance.

andi999 6y ago

Well, it has to be in the blood first to get metabolized by the liver, so the unborn gets some. But as you say, a little wont probably matter. I was shocked how big an effect licoriice has (finnish study), before I read the stud, I thought they found something signific but not relevant. Reading the study changed my perspective and i am wondering why there are no warning labels

mft_ 6y ago
Everything absorbed by the gut goes through the liver before it reaches the systemic circulation. This doesn’t necessarily invalidate your overall point (that a foetus may be exposed to some alcohol, as it depends on how efficient the first-pass metabolism of alcohol is) but it does impact your logic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_pass_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_pass_effect
- andi999 6y ago
  I didnt know. This is fascinating. Thanks for pointing it out.