The Excellus BlueCross BlueShield conducted a survey which involved adults and their drinking behaviors in the last 30 days. The survey, which studied the consumption of alcohol by adults in Upstate New York, concluded that people are binge drinking more often than heavy drinking.

Binge drinking was defined as having at least five drinks per occasion for men and at least four for women. On the other hand, heavy drinking usually accounts for more than two alcohol drinks per day for men and more than one for women.

According to Dr. Martin Lustick, Excellus BCBS senior vice president and corporate medical director, “Heavy and binge drinking behaviors are indicators of alcohol use disorders in a community. Both behaviors can progress to alcohol use disorders, including alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence or alcoholism, which is a major health hazard and can be fatal.”

Around 18 million people have an alcohol use disorder across the U.S. As health care costs related to alcohol misuse continue to climb, New York state spends $2.2 billion in alcohol-related health care costs while federal, state and local governments spend more than $144 billion.

Trying to add to the notion that there’s an app for everything, the Missouri Department of Transportation has launched the release of a new app which determines your blood alcohol concentration. The app is called “Show Me My Buzz” and determines your BAC when you enter your weight, gender, and the number of drinks you have had. If the app calculates your BAC to be higher than a .08 then the number for a local taxi company will pop up on the screen.

The app doesn’t seem very accurate since it doesn’t take into account many factors. For example it doesn’t ask for your height, or how much time it has taken you to finish your drinks. People’s personal alcohol tolerance varies greatly and whether you have eaten, taken any meds, or any other psychological conditions which can highly affect your drinking. Additionally, many bars are more likely to serve larger portions than the standard drink size.

If an individual really takes this app seriously and gets behind the wheel believing their BAC is lower than it actually is, it can be quite dangerous and fatal.

What do you think of this app? Would you consider it reliable?

Another American study was conducted at the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, which involved around 365,000 people from the year 1977. Studies found that those who were moderate drinkers (one drink a day per women and a maximum of two for men) had a lower risk of developing dementia and cognitive impairment.

According to Michael A. Collins, professors of molecular pharmacology and therapeutics, moderate intake of alcohol can toughen brain cells, increasing the brain’s ability to deal with stress which can lead to dementia more effectively with older age.

However heavy drinking which consists of 3-5 drinks a day, can negatively affect the brain, leading to a higher risk of dementia. Wine is said to be more beneficial than beer and liquor, however the studies did not distinguish between the different types.

Finally some good news for those of us who like to indulge with a delicious glass of wine. Check out the reasons why you should be drinking wine more than any other alcoholic beverage!

1. Wine can prevent sunburn and help with sun damage!

According to a recent study from the University of Barcelona, the polyphenolic substances which are extracted from grapes and are abundant in wine, can reduce the formation of human cells which have been exposed to ultraviolet rays. Although we are well aware that UV rays emitted by the sun are the leading environmental cause of premature aging, sunburn, and skin damage, the substances in grapes can protect our cells from such damage.

2. Wine helps you relax!

Wine is the perfect beverage to help you unwind after a stressful day. Donna Dawson, a psychologist specialising in personality and behavior, said: “When it comes to drinking alcohol, the way the human brain works means we are naturally disposed to find a reason to indulge, particularly if we’ve had a tough day.”

3. Red Wine can help when you’re feeling too lazy to hit up the gym!

Resveratrol, a main ingredient in red wine is said to reduce the negative effects of the lack of activity astronauts face when in space. In other words; good news for those us who are sort of on the lazy side.  Although, the effects of wine cannot substitute the gym, it will help out your body on those days you skip it!

4. Wine may lower your risk for breast cancer!

Depending on your genetics, a new study has found evidence linking moderate wine consumption to lower risk of breast cancer in women. However, those who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer should be careful since wine may be putting them at a greater risk instead.