Addiction specialist Favorsky explained why beer is no safer than vodka.

      18 August 2025 09:11

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      Society

      From August 18 to 24, Russia is holding Alcohol Abstinence Week. This campaign is intended to draw attention to one of the most acute problems of modern society — the abuse of alcoholic beverages.

      Today doctors are unanimous: alcohol has ceased to be merely a social misfortune. It has become a global threat to the nation’s health. More than two hundred diseases are directly linked to its consumption: from liver and heart diseases to severe mental disorders. At the same time, the contribution of ethanol to the development of various pathologies ranges from 5 to 75%. In other words, for a number of illnesses alcohol is the key triggering factor.

      Deputy chief physician of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Narcological Dispensary Alexey Favorsky spoke about why ethanol is dangerous and why combating addiction requires a comprehensive approach.

      Not only strong drinks are dangerous

      According to the expert, one of the most widespread misconceptions is the belief that beer or wine can be considered "harmless." In fact, danger is determined not by the strength of the drink but by the amount of pure ethyl alcohol.

      "A bottle of vodka contains about as much ethanol as six to seven liters of beer. Therefore, regularly consuming large amounts of even low-alcohol drinks is no safer than abusing strong spirits," Favorsky noted.

      How alcohol destroys the body

      Ethyl alcohol is a toxin that affects virtually all body systems.

      - Liver: cirrhosis and other severe pathologies develop.

      - Pancreas: pancreatitis is a common consequence, often life-threatening.

      - Heart and blood vessels: blood pressure rises, and the risk of heart attack and stroke increases.

      - Kidneys: prolonged alcohol exposure can lead to kidney failure.

      - Brain and nervous system: ethanol destroys neurons, causing dementia, memory lapses, coordination disorders, and anxiety and depressive disorders.

      Risks to others

      The harm from alcohol goes far beyond the body of the drinker. Impaired coordination and reduced self-control lead to increased traffic accidents, household injuries, and accidents. Often those who did not drink at all suffer.

      Alcohol also directly affects crime rates, increasing aggression and provoking antisocial behavior. This entails serious socio-economic consequences: from costs for treatment and rehabilitation to expenses related to combating crime and accidents.

      You can't "just quit"

      Alexey Favorsky emphasizes: alcoholism is not a bad habit but a chronic disease. Overcoming it without professional help is practically impossible.

      "Recovery requires the work of addiction specialists (narcologists), psychotherapists, and psychologists. There are effective treatment methods that can restore health, but success is possible only if the person recognizes the problem themselves and is willing to change their life," the specialist explained.

      What can change the situation

      Experts are confident: prevention remains the main tool in fighting alcohol abuse. This includes informing the public about the risks, fostering a responsible attitude toward one’s health, and state support for programs aimed at reducing alcohol consumption.

      "Alcohol destroys not only individuals but society as a whole. And only through joint efforts (doctors, family, the state, and the individual) can this destructive force be stopped," concluded narcologist Favorsky.

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