Questions and answers on alcohol, health and wine

During the breathalyzer test (measurement of alcohol in exhaled air), repeated twice at a distance of 5 minutes, the legal limit of 0.5 g/l must not be exceeded. This limit is exceeded with one and a half glasses of wine (approx. 187 ml total), with one and a half 33cl cans of beer (approx. 495 ml total) or with a small glass of spirits of 40 ml (approx. 60 ml total).

These are progressive penalties depending on the detected blood alcohol level

*From 0.50 to 0.80 g/l
fine from 500 to 2,000 euros;
suspension from 3 to 6 months of the driving license
deduction of 10 points from the driving license

*From 0.80 to 1.50 g/l
fine from 800 to 3,200 euros;
suspension from 6 to 12 months of the driving license
deduction of 10 points from the driving license
arrest up to 6 months

*Over 1.50 g/l
fine from 1,500 to 6,000 euros;
suspension from 12 to 24 months of the driving license
deduction of 10 points from the driving license
arrest from 3 months to 1 year; revocation of the license in case of repeat offense within two years.

Fish-based dishes can also be paired with red wines, provided they have good acidity, low tannins and are not excessively full-bodied. Here are some examples. Nero d’Avola pairs well with a seared tuna steak, salmon or rich fish soups, while sea bream or sea bass baked in the oven are excellent when accompanied by a Pinot Noir. The same applies to a young Chianti with tomato-based fish sauces such as cacciucco alla livornese, to a Bonarda with fried fish or an Aglianico del Vulture with a dish of red mullet fillets, while eel pairs perfectly with Bardolino.

The classic Spritz (bitter aperitif, white wine and seltzer) is the lowest in calories (80 kcal). While the Caipirinha (cachaça, lime, water and refined cane sugar) is the highest in calories (250 kcal)

Based on the sugar content of the sparkling wine. According to this content, the following traditional terms are indicated on the label:

• dosage zero or pas dosé: less than 3 g/l;
• extra-brut: between 0 and 6 g/l;
• brut: less than 15 g/l;
• extra-dry: between 12 and 20 g/l;
• dry: between 17 and 35 g/l;
• demi-sec: between 33 and 50 g/l;
• sweet: over 50 g/l.

Binge drinking refers to the consumption, on a single occasion and within a short period of time (2–3 hours), of very large quantities of alcohol, conventionally 5–6 or more drinks, even of different types, (considering that one drink corresponds to one Alcohol Unit, UA, equal to 12 grams of pure alcohol) up to the point of intoxication, loss of control and, in some cases, alcohol poisoning and alcoholic coma.

According to some studies, a daily consumption of high doses of alcohol, more than 80 g per day, equivalent to more than one liter of wine per day, can damage testicular function, both in the production of testosterone, an important hormone for sperm development, and directly in sperm production itself.

Moderate daily alcohol consumption (one small glass of red wine) may have a cardioprotective effect, but if these amounts are exceeded over time, it can lead to deterioration of the cardiovascular system with hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, dilation of the heart chambers and eventually myocardial infarction.

Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and makes it more difficult to control balance, memory, language and judgment. This is due to the fact that long-term excessive alcohol consumption causes alterations in neuronal function, such as a reduction in their size. The brain’s ability to return to normal after long-term sobriety is not fully known; however, an increasing number of studies indicate that at least some alcohol-induced brain alterations, such as changes in thinking, sensitivity and behavior, may improve after months of abstinence from drinking.

Alcohol, when consumed in excess (over 300 g per week), can have a negative effect on male sexual response. At the penile level, this is due to an arteriosclerotic effect of alcohol, increasing arterial stiffness with consequent loss of elasticity and blood flow. Furthermore, at the level of the central nervous system, while low doses of alcohol may stimulate sexual desire and reduce performance anxiety, higher doses (above 0.5 g/l blood alcohol level) have a depressive effect on sexual arousal, along with a reduction in desire, partly due to decreased circulating testosterone levels.