The country is witnessing unprecedented levels of alcohol consumption, so much so that clubs have now found their way into estates in urban areas.
Additionally, over the last few months, a new clubbing phenomenon has crept into the country and is spreading like wildfire—Aluta Sunday. The Jamaica-inspired Sunday morning carnival sees revellers flocking to nightclubs as early as 6am to enjoy endless hours of unlimited reggae celebration.
Couple this with the fact that there are plans to introduce what is being touted as ‘light beer’ that can be taken together with meals, and we have a serious problem brewing. Scientifically, you will not necessarily feel alcohol’s impact on your body right away, but it starts from the moment you take your first sip.
It is common knowledge that alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behaviour, and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination.
Those behind the Aluta Sunday craze have been quoted justifying their position as specifically catering to reggae lovers who just won't go home or who, for lack of a better thing to do on a Sunday morning, find it fit to imbibe while enjoying their music.
Never mind that most of these people are often already drunk since they rove from one club to another till the wee hours of the morning. It is almost impractical that anyone will wake up early on a Sunday morning to go for a drink and enjoy music in a club.
According to the National Cancer Institute, there is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer. In its Report on Carcinogens, the National Toxicology Program of the US Department of Health and Human Services lists the consumption of alcoholic beverages as a known human carcinogen.
Most people assume the occasional beer or glass of wine at mealtimes or special occasions doesn’t pose much cause for concern. But drinking any amount of alcohol can potentially lead to unwanted health consequences.
Since the Aluta Sunday revellers are binge drinking, even during the night, they are at risk of serious problems arising out of heavy drinking.
If you drink heavily for a long time, alcohol can affect how your brain looks and works. The brain cells start to change and even get smaller. Too much alcohol can actually shrink your brain. And that will have big effects on your ability to think, learn and remember things. It can also make it harder to keep a steady body temperature and control your movements.
The Aluta Sunday idea has become such a massive hit with club owners that they have now created specific zones for it. What they fail to realise is that over time, drinking can also damage the brain’s frontal lobe, the part responsible for executive functions, like abstract reasoning, decision-making, social behaviour and performance.
In other words, the country is staring at another enormous problem being perpetuated by those hell-bent on making profits at any cost. Some people who drink eventually develop a tolerance to alcohol. As a result, they eventually need to drink more to notice the same effects they once did.
Drinking alcohol on a regular basis can lead to dependence, which means your body and brain have grown used to alcohol’s effects.
