8 Surprising Facts About Alcohol You Didn’t Know

Check out these wild and lesser-known facts about alcohol that’ll surely make you think twice before raising that glass next time. It has some surprising effects on your smarts and health, plus insane stories and weird discoveries. Alcohol fits into our lives and affects us much more complexly than one would imagine!

1. High School IQ Linked to Later Alcohol Use

Studies show that your IQ back in high school can actually be an indication of how you will drink later in life. Indeed, people with higher IQs are more likely to end up as moderate or heavy drinkers, rather than total abstainers.

2. No Health Benefits to Moderate Drinking

Contrary to general view, a new study finds that moderate consumption of alcohol does not carry health benefits. Previous studies have exaggerated these benefits; some scientists still raise concerns that the alcohol industry popularized light drinking as a way of living longer. In fact, according to international studies, no amount of alcohol is considered healthy for general purposes.

3. Alcohol Dependence and Sexual Dysfunction

A study revealed that the majority of men who suffer from alcohol dependence also experience sexual dysfunction, adding another dimension to alcohol’s health risks.

4. No Alcohol on the ISS

Alcohol is banned on the International Space Station-but not because of health or intoxication issues. It’s a combustible chemical that can corrode the water filtration systems on the station. For the same reason, NASA also forbids mouthwash and aftershave. Sad fact: Since returning from the Moon, astronaut Buzz Aldrin has publicly struggled with depression and alcoholism.

5. Self-Recovery from Alcohol Dependence is Common

Interestingly, about 75% of individuals who overcome alcohol dependence do so without formal help, such as rehab or Alcoholics Anonymous. Only 13% of alcohol-dependent people ever receive specialized treatment.

6. Saudi Arabia and Alcohol

Alcohol was legal in Saudi Arabia until 1952. That changed after the Saudi king’s son, while drunk, shot and killed a British diplomat. This incident led to the strict alcohol ban still in place today.

7. Cancelling Vertigo with Heavy Water

Drinking heavy water (deuterium oxide) alongside alcohol can cancel out vertigo. If you don’t have access to heavy water, glycerol works as well.

8. Winston Churchill’s Relationship with Alcohol

During Prohibition in the U.S., Winston Churchill was prescribed an “indefinite” supply of alcohol by his American doctor after being hit by a car. He claimed that stopping alcohol abruptly could kill him due to withdrawal. In fact, sudden alcohol withdrawal can be fatal for alcoholics, as can withdrawal from benzodiazepines. Churchill is estimated to have consumed around 42,000 bottles of Pol Roger Champagne in his lifetime, drinking two bottles daily from 1908 until his death in 1965. His daily alcohol intake included whisky, champagne, wine, and brandy, spread across meals and moments throughout the day.

These facts highlight the complex, often misunderstood role that alcohol plays in health, history, and human behavior. Whether you indulge occasionally or abstain, it’s clear that alcohol affects much more than just your next hangover.