| Eat When You Enjoy
Beer
Enjoy beer with your favorite meal or snack. Foods high
in protein and carbohydrates, like meat, cheese or nuts,
are ideal accompaniments to beer. Food not only helps
moderate the effects of alcohol, but it also slows down
your rate of consumption.
Know the Difference in Beer Styles
There is a wide variety of beer styles available for
you to sample. Keep in mind that the percentage of alcohol
in beer can vary from about 3 percent to over 10 percent
by volume. While you cannot determine alcohol content
based on beer color or age, some styles, such as barley
wines, doppelbocks and many “fest” beers,
often contain a higher percentage of alcohol than other
beers. Your server may be able to provide you with additional
alcohol-content information.
Don’t Drive When You’ve Had Too
Much
For you own safety and others, please don’t drink
and drive. Drinking any amount of alcohol can impair
your ability to drive, and all states have strict laws
regulating drinking and driving. Know your limits. Instead
of risking a penalty or an accident, designate a driver
before going out or call a cab. Play it safe and savor
the flavor again another day.
Remember, Time is the Only Remedy for Overindulging
Coffee, cold showers or exercise will not “sober
you up.” Know your limits before you drink.
Beer and Our Society
Beer has been a part of civilization for thousands of
years. Ancient cultures, including Egyptian, Chinese,
Greek and Roman, all brewed beer. As civilization spread
throughout Europe, beer acquired the name “liquid
bread” because the ingredients were so similar.
The Pilgrims introduced brewing to the United States
with the beer they brought from England on the Mayflower,
and beer has been part of our culture ever since. As
a matter of fact George Washington, John Adams and Thomas
Jefferson were not only our first three presidents,
they were brewers too!
The brewing community has continued to evolve and today
provides beer drinkers with a continually expanding
selection of beers. Craft Brewers produce a multitude
of beer styles, some with higher alcohol levels than
the traditional American lagers. Learning the facts
about beer as an alcohol-containing beverage can help
you make responsible choices. Take a few moments to
learn how you can savor the flavor responsibly.
The Brewers Association reminds beer enthusiasts everywhere
to “Savor the Flavor – Responsibly”
and encourages the responsible enjoyment of beer as
an alcohol-containing beverage. To this end, the BA
provides educational information about beer and its
effects on the individual.
The Brewers Association and all its divisions, which
include: the American Homebrewers Association®,
Brewers Publications and the Great American Beer Festival®
– encourage you to savor the flavor responsibly.
Please help us spread the word. Click
here to download a Savor the Flavor Responsibly®
Brochure. For additional brochures for information,
contact the Brewers Association. |
KNOW
YOUR LIMITS:
The rate at which alcohol
is absorbed into the bloodstream depends on the
individual. The alcohol concentration in your
body is based on:
• Your weight. In
general, the less you weigh, the more you will
be affected by alcohol.
• The amount of
food in your stomach. Food will slow alcohol absorption
but will not prevent intoxication.
• The period of
time during which you consume beer.
• The average metabolism
rate for moderate drinkers produces a .017 per
hour decline in blood-alcohol content (BAC) level.
For example, if your BAC is .08% and you have
stopped drinking, it will take about one hour
for your body to reduce BAC to .063%.
Other factors that determine
the effects of alcohol include:
• Gender. Men generally
have a higher alcohol tolerance because they are
usually bigger and have a lower percentage of
body fat than women.
• Mental and physical
health. Illness, depression, stress or fatigue
can increase the effects of alcohol.
• Percentage of
body fat. Alcohol will affect a well-toned individual
less than someone with a higher percentage of
body fat – even if both people are the same
weight.
• Medication. Medication
can increase the influence of alcohol. Follow
your doctor’s advice before mixing the two. |
|
