Alcohol
Epidemiology
About 1.6 million people in Germany are acutely dependent on alcohol. Alcohol abuse is currently present in about 2.65 million people. That is a total of 6.4 percent of the resident population over the age of 18.
Effect
Alcohol quickly enters the bloodstream through the mucous membranes and flows through the entire organism. It primarily influences the centres of the brain that control consciousness and feelings and initially has a stimulating, later numbing effect. From about 0.2 per mille, subjective experience and personal behaviour change. One feels more relaxed and free. The resistance to further alcohol consumption decreases. Vision, concentration and coordination of movement decrease. At a blood alcohol concentration of about one per mille, the intoxication stage begins with a limpid, cheerful or depressive mood. Balance and speech disorders (staggering, slurring) occur. At about two per mille the stupefaction stage is reached. Disturbances of memory and orientation occur.
Low-risk consumption of alcohol (WHO recommendation)
The rule of thumb for low-risk consumption according to WHO is: Women should not drink more than two small glasses (0.2 litres) of beer or one small glass of wine (0.125 litres) per day. Men should drink no more than three small glasses (0.2 litres) of beer or about 0.2 litres of wine per day. In addition, it is recommended to abstain from alcohol completely on at least two to three days per week in order to avoid habituation.
Alcohol content of various spirits
| Drink | Alcohol content | Quantity | Pure alcohol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer | approx. 5 vol. | 0,2 l | approx. 8,0 g |
| Wine | approx. 10 Vol. % | 0,1 l | approx. 8,0 g |
| Fruit liqueur | approx. 30 Vol. % | 2 cl | approx. 4,8 g |
| Korn | approx. 32 Vol. % | 2 cl | approx. 5,0 g |
| Obstler | approx. 35 Vol. % | 2 cl | approx. 5,6 g |
| Brandy | approx. 40 Vol. % | 2 cl | approx. 6,4 g |
Brief interventions in the hospital
If necessary, advice to reduce alcohol consumption should be recommended or counselling should be initiated via the addiction outpatient clinic of the psychiatric hospital. Brief interventions can be carried out by a physician as well as by members of other professional groups (physician's assistant, nurse, etc.). A reduction in alcohol consumption (frequency, quantity, binge drinking) as well as harm-reducing effects (extent of negative consequences of continued excessive use, for example number of days in inpatient treatment or emergency admissions) can be demonstrated up to 48 months after implementation of a brief intervention.
Diagnosis
Six criteria are listed, three of which must have occurred simultaneously in the past 12 months for a diagnosis of alcohol dependence to be made.
Learn moreBrief intervention
All patients should be asked about their alcohol consumption. Here you can find out whether you can make use of the counselling services offered by the prevention outpatient clinic.
Learn moreConsultation service
In our prevention outpatient clinic for addiction you can get help and answers to questions about intoxication with alcohol, medication or illegal drugs as well as tobacco addiction.
Learn moreHistorical
Experiences with alcohol are probably as old as human history. Alcohol intoxication probably initially arose accidentally through the consumption of fermented fruit. The first evidence of the deliberate production of alcohol dates back to 10,000 BC. At that time, alcohol was mainly used for ritual and medicinal purposes.
However, as early as the times of the Germanic tribes, the Egyptians and the Greeks, the consumption of alcohol also increasingly served the purpose of deliberately inducing the experience of intoxication. In addition, alcohol became an integral part of the daily diet in many cultural circles. Wages were often paid in the form of alcoholic beverages. The most common alcoholic beverages at this time were mead, beer and wine, which were produced by natural fermentation processes and were below 15% alcohol by volume.
The development of distillation processes in the early Middle Ages made it possible to produce high-proof alcoholic beverages. As a result, the negative consequences of alcohol consumption increased. Thus, there was a steady increase in excessive consumption in large parts of the population. While the aristocracy tended to drink alcohol with pleasure, it was common for the working classes to drink excessively and regularly. Alcohol consumption in Germany reached a peak during industrialisation. By the end of the 18th century, large sections of the working class were afflicted with "drunkenness". Initial efforts by the state, the church and the medical profession (the so-called "abstinence movement") led to a decrease in consumption.
Further links
General information on alcohol dependence and its treatment (Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen e.V.)
Certificates and Associations
Focus: Top Nationales Krankenhaus 2024
Kooperation für Transparenz und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen
Qualitätspartnerschaft mit der PKV
Erfolgsfaktor Familie
Die Altersvorsorge für den Öffentlichen Dienst