The charity Alcohol Change UK is calling for men’s alcohol consumption levels to be addressed in the new Men’s Health Strategy. A consultation is currently underway to gather views from the public and health and social care professionals about what should be included in the strategy.
Alcohol-related deaths are higher among men than women, and they have been rising since the pandemic. Men also drink more than women, and are more than twice as likely to exceed the recommended 14 units of alcohol a week.
Alcohol misuse is associated with a wide range of health conditions, from cardiovascular disease and liver disease to mental health problems. However, it also impacts sexual wellbeing, and for men it can be a contributory factor for erectile dysfunction (ED).
How alcohol affects sexual performance
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning that it slows down messages between the brain and the body. This initially results in a lowering of inhibitions, which makes people feel more confident in sexual interactions. However, more than one or two drinks will actually make it more difficult to become aroused.
Alcohol dilates the blood vessels but also lowers the blood pressure, meaning that there is reduced blood flow to the penis and getting an erection is more difficult. It also disrupts the nerve signals between the brain and body, which weakens sexual responsiveness.
In the long term, alcohol misuse can permanently damage the nervous system, making it more likely that ED will evolve from an occasional to a more persistent problem. Heavy drinking can also impair testosterone production, which means that the sex drive is lowered, and the ability to perform is also reduced.
Alcohol misuse is also strongly associated with mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, which can lower the libido and make it more difficult to sustain rewarding sexual relationships.
How can men be more mindful of their drinking habits?
Drinking is embedded in our culture, from Bank Holiday weekends spent at the pub, to binge drinking sessions at birthday parties, stag dos, or big sporting events. It’s also much easier to buy cheap booze to drink at home, with entire aisles of supermarkets dedicated to all kinds of alcohol, often with tempting discounts and promotions.
It can be all too easy to allow drinking to slide from a fun way to unwind and socialise, into a habit or even a dependency. Here are some steps you can take to tackle drinking that is getting out of control.
Know what 14 units looks like
The NHS recommends consuming no more than 14 units of alcohol a week to lower the risk of developing complications or dependency. But what exactly does that mean? It’s not always easy to interpret, because alcohol can have different strengths, and obviously glasses and bottles have a range of sizes.
One unit is equivalent to 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, and will take the average adult about one hour to process. 14 units is equivalent to six pints of average strength beer or ten small glasses of lower strength wine, according to the NHS. A 330ml bottle of beer or lager with an alcohol by volume (ABV) level of 5 per cent contains 1.7 units.
A small (125ml) glass of wine with an ABV of 12 per cent is equivalent to 1.5 units, while a standard (175ml) glass of wine contains 2.1 units. However, many wines and beers can have a higher ABV, so always check the label. A single small shot of spirits is one unit of alcohol, and a large shot is 1.4 units.
Try alcohol replacements
Low or no-alcohol beers, spirits and wines are now very popular, and are available in most bars and restaurants. The quality has improved considerably in recent years to meet growing market demands, so if you love the taste of alcohol but don’t like dealing with the hangovers, tiredness and reduced sexual performance, these are a great option.
Seek professional help
If you’ve already tried and failed to drink more mindfully and you are concerned about the effects alcohol is having on your mind and body, then it’s time to reach out. Speak to a pharmacist or your GP, or a men’s health clinic if you have persistent ED.
They may refer you to support services and encourage you to make healthy lifestyle changes, such as a better diet, consistent sleep patterns and regular exercise. They may also recommend an oral medication to temporarily resolve ED, such as Cialis (generic name tadalafil, cheap to buy online).
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