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Alcohol tolerance refers to the body’s adaptation to repeated alcohol consumption, requiring increasing amounts to achieve the same effects
People with high tolerance tend to drink more to feel the same effects as others who consume less, increasing their risk of addiction and long-term health complications. (First Check)
CLAIM: High alcohol tolerance is a red flag
FACT: True. People with high tolerance tend to drink more to feel the same effects as others who consume less, increasing their risk of addiction and long-term health complications
A reel posted by @breakfreewithabhi, a growth and wellness influencer on Instagram, highlights the dangers of alcohol tolerance.
“This is probably the greatest lesson alcohol tolerance capacity taught me,” he says. “It is not a badge of honour. It’s a red flag.”
The influencer shares his personal experience of being a heavy drinker. “I am the person who would boast after drinking 6-7 pegs that I don’t feel intoxicated. Others would also envy my solid capacity,” the influencer recalls.”Then one day a very dear surgeon friend of mine told me that this is not good for my health. This simply means that my body needs more alcohol, which means more damage.”
Later, the influencer claims to have read about the issue on the internet and realised that more tolerance meant more dependence on alcohol, increasing the risk of conditions like cirrhosis, hepatitis or fatty liver.
The reel has received 1.9 million views and over 55.2k likes.
What is alcohol tolerance?
Alcohol tolerance refers to the body’s adaptation to repeated alcohol consumption, requiring increasing amounts to achieve the same effects. Some people can also be naturally predisposed to not feel intoxicated even after drinking large amounts of alcohol such as the one influencer claims to be. Diagnostic manuals, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), have historically included tolerance as one of the criteria for diagnosing alcohol use disorder (AUD).
In the book titled International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, a chapter on alcohol-related disorders explains that alcohol tolerance varies from person to person due to factors like genetics, drinking habits, and overall health.
“For a number of not fully understood reasons, tolerance in men is usually better than in women,” it says. It also explains that regular or heavy drinkers tend to develop higher tolerance, except in severe cases where liver damage or mental health issues reduce it.
Studies also suggest that people with a family history of alcoholism often have higher tolerance, which may increase their risk of developing alcohol dependence later in life.
Dr. Manoj Kumar, a gastroenterologist at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, confirms that alcohol consumption can lead to serious conditions like cirrhosis, hepatitis, and damage to multiple organs, including pancreas and liver.
“Some patients tell me their liver got damaged despite drinking relatively less alcohol. I explain to them that everyone has a different threshold,” he told First Check. “There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption.”
Alcohol tolerance, according to Dr Kumar, is influenced by genetics and metabolism.
“People with high tolerance tend to drink more to feel the same effects as others who consume less, increasing their risk of addiction and long-term health complications,” he explained.
This story was originally published by First Check, and republished by News18 as part of the Shakti Collective.
