As the weather heats up, chilled alcoholic drinks like beer or chuhai become more tempting. Drinking can lift your spirits and make meals feel even more enjoyable — so it’s no surprise that gatherings with friends or coworkers often involve alcohol.
However, excessive drinking can actually accelerate aging and make you look older than you are!
🍺 How much alcohol is too much?
According to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, women who consume more than 20g of pure alcohol per day are at a higher risk for lifestyle-related diseases.
For those mindful of beauty and health, keeping your daily intake to around 10–15g of pure alcohol is recommended.
📏 What does 10–15g of alcohol look like?
- Beer (5%): approx. 375ml (just under one can)
- Sake (15%): approx. 105ml (0.6 go)
- Wine (12%): approx. 160ml (slightly less than one glass)
- Shochu (25%): approx. 60ml
- Whiskey (40%): approx. 45ml
- Chuhai (7%): approx. 270ml (just under one can)
⚠️ Alcohol affects people differently. Your condition and whether you drink on an empty stomach can also impact your reaction.
🧴 How does alcohol age you?
Even small amounts can impact your body and skin:
- Oxidative Stress from Free Radicals
Alcohol metabolism produces free radicals, which damage cells and accelerate aging — leading to spots, wrinkles, and sagging. - Dehydrated Skin
Alcohol has a diuretic effect, depleting water and leaving your skin dry — causing dullness, flakiness, and fine lines. - Vitamin Deficiency
Alcohol breaks down B vitamins, essential for skin repair. This leads to dull skin, reduced elasticity, and lower immunity. - Poor Sleep Quality
Though alcohol may make you feel sleepy, it disrupts deep sleep and reduces growth hormone secretion, which is vital for skin turnover. - Redness & Puffiness
Alcohol dilates blood vessels, making redness, puffiness, and enlarged pores more noticeable.
⚠️ Watch out for these drinking habits:
- Drinking daily without a rest day
- Consuming more than 20g of alcohol in one sitting
- Drinking right after a hot bath (adds to dehydration)
- Drinking right before bed (lowers sleep quality)
These habits can lead to visible aging like sagging cheeks, dark circles, and a double chin.
🍋 How to drink smart for your beauty:
- Limit intake to under 20g of alcohol at a time
- Take at least 2 alcohol-free days per week
- Eat foods rich in antioxidants like Vitamin C, E, and polyphenols
- Always stay hydrated (with water as a chaser)
✨ Personal Note:
In my 20s, I used to enjoy drinking after work. But in my 30s, I started developing red patches and rashes after alcohol — possibly due to a weakened immune system. Eventually, I almost completely stopped drinking.
Now I only drink on rare occasions and have noticed a significant improvement in my skin.
Understanding how to drink wisely can help keep your beauty glowing from the inside out. Remember — consistent care is the key to beautiful skin! 💕
