Alcohol and men

Men drink more on average than women and we suffer more of its ill effects as a result. Read on to find out what every man needs to know about alcohol.

Alcohol, infertility and premature ejaculation

You're down the pub, you've had a few and suddenly right there's the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen! Supposing they don't mind you being half-cut, the chances of it being a night in heaven are minimal if you've been drinking.

That's the immediate effects. In the long-term, too much booze could cause impotence, shrink your genitals and give you man breasts. Nice.

Find out more in our section on alcohol and sexual health.

Men behaving badly

Alcohol intensifies emotions and affects our judgement. It can also make people aggressive. Little wonder, then, the 1999 Scottish Crime Survey found that 69% of men who committed assaults had been drinking. Meanwhile a third of all prisoners (95% of whom are men) reckoned they wouldn't have ended up in prison at all if they hadn't been drinking. Alcohol is also a factor in 32% of cases of domestic violence.

Macho drinking cultures

Men are their own worst enemy when it comes to drink and we tend to bring out the worst in each other. Why, for example, should we consider it manly to be able to drink far in excess of what's sensible? And why, if one person in the company is trying not to drink, do we think it’s fair game to take the mickey out of them?

Encouraging friends to drink to excess is a pretty daft idea. Why? Read on . . .

More men than ever are dying because of their drinking habits

In 2005, 254 men in Surrey died of alcohol-related causes. It's a growing problem too.

Alcohol and suicide

Drinking makes depression and anxiety worse and 70% of men who complete suicide are found to have drunk alcohol before doing so. For more information on how alcohol can affect the way we think and feel, visit our section on alcohol and mental health.