Surprisingly, it's not all gloom and abstinence.
Surprisingly, it's not all gloom and abstinence.
The first thing to know when considering the efficacy of tossing back your pills then heading to the pub is there's no 'one rule fits all'.
Some medications are safe to take and still have a drink with dinner. Others combine with alcohol to exacerbate side effects, such as drowsiness and nausea, while some just stop working altogether. Then there are those that are downright dangerous. So what's what when it comes to the mixing?
"It depends on the medication you're taking, your sensitivity to it and the way alcohol metabolises," Dr Tony Bartone, vice president of the Australian Medical Association, says. "Alcohol is metabolised in the liver and many drugs are, too. That leads to possibilities for changes in the way the drugs act in our bloodstream.
"The simple rules are never take meds at exactly the same time as alcohol; and be aware that the two can interact at any stage - even after you've stopped taking the medication - so check with your doctor or pharmacist when you pick up the medication about any possible side effects." Some types of medication also affect the way your brain works, and if you're drinking alcohol, there will be a conflict.
Believing that you're someone who can 'take a drink' doesn't really come into play.
"The individual metabolism is really last of the concerns," Bartone says. "The attitude that you metabolise alcohol quickly or have a strong metabolism is just foolhardy."
It's ok to have a drink with...
Most antibiotics: Many people stop drinking when they take antibiotics because there's an assumption they interfere with the body's breakdown of alcohol, or the alcohol stops them from working. But Dr Ian Musgrave, a molecular pharmacologist at the University of Adelaide, says the majority of antibiotics in general use today aren't affected by alcohol in small doses.
"Drinking guideline amounts of alcohol with antibiotics that don't have a 'do not take with alcohol' advisory shouldn't be an issue," he says. "If you drink enough that your decision-making is impaired, and you forget to take an antibiotic or take too many, this is obviously an issue. But if you drink sensibly, there should be no problems." A small dose is anything up to two standard drinks, in line with national alcohol guidelines.
Antibiotics that do interfere with alcohol include cefotetan (known as Cefotan), metronidazole (such as Metronide, Metrogyl, Flagyl) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (such as Bactrim, Co-trimoxazole), Musgrave says, adding: "Typically they will have a warning to say not to take with alcohol, because that can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, a fall in blood pressure and headaches." If in doubt, see your GP or pharmacist.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen: Paracetamol gets a bad rap, because when it's taken over time with excessive amounts of alcohol, the combined toxicity can lead to liver failure.
But according to government website Health Direct, drinking a small amount of alcohol (one standard drink) is unlikely to be harmful when your dose of the painkiller is within safe limits and you're generally healthy.
The same goes for ibuprofen, with consumer health information website Healthline stating: "In most cases, consuming a small amount of alcohol while taking ibuprofen isn't harmful." A word of warning, though:
More than the recommended dosage of paracetamol or ibuprofen in combination with a lot of alcohol significantly raises your risk of serious problems.
Anyone with liver or kidney issues should consult a GP before taking these medicines in the first place.
Don't mix booze with...
Many prescription medicines: "There can be serious implications from mixing alcohol with other drugs such as antidepressants, prescription painkillers and allergy meds," Bartone says, adding that these include an increased heart rate, sedation, sleep interference and even loss of consciousness.
Other drugs that shouldn't be mixed with alcohol include those for heart disease, high cholesterol or blood pressure, epilepsy, blood clotting, arthritis and diabetes. If in doubt, see your GP or pharmacist.
Codeine: Mixing codeine with any amount of alcohol can lead to a rapid release of the drug and cause dangerous side effects, such as extreme drowsiness, fainting and even respiratory distress, Dr Shane Jackson, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, says.
"People often think over-thecounter drugs aren't harmful in any way," he says. "But that's often not the case when combined with other medications or alcohol. That's why you're best buying them from a pharmacy where there's a trained health professional to offer advice." From February, codeine won't be available over the counter.
Sleeping aids: Sleeping pills and alcohol both affect the central nervous system, so combining the two can be dangerous. The mix may affect breathing and increase the risk of an overdose. And that's not restricted to prescription pills.
"Some complementary medicines - such as valerian, which can help with sleeplessness - also increase the effects of alcohol, and vice versa," Jackson says. "This can have effects such as memory loss, impaired thinking and excess sedation."
"Avoid taking alcohol with any drug unless you've been advised it's OK to do so," Jackson says. "In many cases, small amounts of alcohol are OK, but you should always check with your doctor or pharmacist." For more information, call Medicines Line on 1300 633 424. For a suspected overdose or poisoning, call the Poisons Information Centre on 131 126.
And remember, if you feel unwell, drinking red wine won't help. "Alcohol suppresses the immune system," Jackson says.
"So it won't help your body recover from a virus or infection."
With less alcohol and carbs, these drinks are nice to your body but still taste like a treat
Less carbs: Heineken 3 ($19.30, pack of 6, bws.com.au)
Beat the bloat with this premium mid-strength lager, which has almost half the amount of carbs (5g) and kilojoules (359) compared to a standard bottle of Heineken.
Less kilojoules: Lindeman's Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon Blanc ($12, firstchoiceliquor.com.au)
This crisp drink has 25 per cent less kilojoules and alcohol compared to your average bottle of white wine.
Alcohol removed: Edenvale Sparkling Cuvee ($8.99, danmurphys.com.au)
Because this fruity bubbly is made with wine grapes with the alcohol removed, you still get the flavour and fermentation but half the kilojoules and no hangover.
Less alcohol: The Doctors' Rose ($20, forrest.co.nz)
This lively Kiwi drop with strawberry and cherry hints contains 9.5 per cent alcohol, compared to the average 13 per cent of most wines.
Less sugar: Coco Vodka ($15.50, pack of 4, danmurphys.com.au)
With natural sweetness from coconut water and stevia, this pre-mixed tropical drink contains under 15g sugar per can, making it one of the lowest sugar pre-mixed options.
Mocktail mixer: Seedlip Garden 108 ($49.95, davidjones.com.au)
Seedlip, the world's first distilled non-alcoholic spirit brand, has created a herbal ode to the English countryside with notes of rosemary and thyme. Serve with low-sugar tonic and a slice of cucumber.
What's a standard drink?
The Government's National Health and Medical Research Council advises having no more than two standard drinks a day.
A doctor in your pocket.
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