Will I need a liver transplant before I reach 30?

Question

I'm 16 years old, I sometimes drink 4/5 beers (cobra if your interested) when I'm alone or have a drink like wine at dinner once a week somtimes followed by sommthing stronger like a spirit, but not always. In fact I've actually had 4 cobra's right now, I was woundering would I have liver problems if I continue this way. Before you answer take these things into acount
I have never been drunk even when out with my friends, and I have never had a hangover in the morning, and considering my age I'm british so the legal age is 18 not 21 so I am closer to the legal age then you might think. I would really like an opinion based on fact, but feel free to judge me or make commments if you wish.

Answer 1

Are you drinking daily? IF so you may need to seek some professional help! You have 4/5 beers and you have never been drunk? That is hard to beleive this amount of drinking is not good for ones body you may have nyriad problems int eh future if you keep it up. Take care!

Answer 2

The amount is over the 'recommended' daily intake, and the 'specialists' also recommend at least one day with no alcohol intake per week.
However, like a lot of things, the 'limits' are set at a pretty low level, to match what "the Average Person" can cope with.

I've probably drunk more than that daily since 14, with beers on sunday at the grandparents (starting out with 'shandies') before that. I'm still Ok - 'touch wood'!
Other people would be likely to have had problems in their twenties or thirties drinking as much as I have. Some might, having only as much as you drink. A lot depends on genetics, almost as much on body size/weight/mass, and a little on 'habituation' - your body learns to cope with it.

Studies have revealed differences in 'races' that can play a part. Pacific Islanders in the area near my land (New Zealand) have at least one gene MORE prone to damage from, and susceptibility to, alcohol than 'white' people. This is because for millennia they had no contact with acohol and the gene either 'weakened' or at least didn't adapt the way it did in Europeans. (This is one gene - it doesn't make them 'less' than Europeans, just different. They have 'better' genes in other areas!)

The amount you drink, while "medically" over average, should not be a long-term threat. Just stick to it! Unless you have a genetic pre-disposition to liver problems (any history in immediate family?), you should be OK.
If there IS a family history - give it up. (I remember seeing an article recently where 13 or 18 out of 20 cousins all had their stomaches removed because they all carried a gene that produced stomach cancer - you don't want to have to face a liver transplant if there's a real threat of needing one and you ignore a way to avoid it.)

Answer 3

My buddy can't drink anymore...has liver problems. He's had it since age 28 likely. He wasn't a huge partier but did drink often enough for a few years. Might be more genetic than anything. I wouldn't worry too much about casual drinking and long term liver health effects. Drinking alone is something you might want to reconsider. My dads battling with booze and that's a warning sign. Most importantly, you're young, have fun, enjoy.

Answer 4

drinking a lot in one day isn't the best for your body.

on one hand you aren't helping your body,
but on the other you are young, and your body should be able to take it.

Maybe you should back off just a little though....

But thats your call, not mine.

Answer 5

The length from your wrist to your elbow is the same as the length of your foot. My foot is actually about an inch shorter! I just measured it!