Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 28: Restricting alcohol consumption to weekends is often considered a healthier alternative to regular drinking, but doctors caution that binge drinking over a short period can still cause significant liver damage and increase the risk of long-term health complications.

Air Cmde (Dr) Bhaskar Nandi, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, said many people mistakenly believe that abstaining from alcohol during weekdays allows the liver to fully recover.

"One of the most common misconceptions I hear is, 'Doctor, I only drink on weekends, so my liver should be fine.' Unfortunately, the liver doesn't distinguish between weekday and weekend drinking. It responds to the total amount of alcohol it has to process in a short period," he said.

According to Dr Nandi, consuming several drinks within a few hours, commonly known as binge drinking, places immense stress on the liver, triggering inflammation even in people who do not drink daily.

He explained that repeated episodes of heavy weekend drinking can lead to fat accumulation in the liver, inflammation and, over time, permanent scarring. The risks are even greater for people with obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease or poor dietary habits.

Dr Nandi also warned that liver disease often progresses without noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making timely diagnosis difficult.

"You may not experience pain or obvious symptoms until significant damage has already occurred. Relying on how you feel is not a reliable indicator of liver health," he said.

He advised people to focus not only on alcohol-free days but also on limiting the quantity consumed during a single session. Maintaining good nutrition, staying hydrated and undergoing regular health check-ups are equally important, he added.

The warning comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to highlight alcohol as a major global public health concern. According to the WHO's Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders, alcohol consumption contributed to an estimated 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2019, accounting for 4.7 per cent of all global deaths.

The report estimates that around 400 million people were living with alcohol use disorders in 2019, including 209 million with alcohol dependence.

"Substance use severely harms individual health, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, mental health conditions, and tragically resulting in millions of preventable deaths every year," WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

The WHO also noted that access to treatment remains limited in many countries, with a large proportion of people suffering from substance use disorders unable to receive appropriate care.

Meanwhile, experts have observed changing drinking habits among younger generations. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Director George F. Koob said younger people are increasingly viewing alcohol as a health risk and are more likely to participate in alcohol-free initiatives such as "Dry January," reflecting a broader shift towards healthier lifestyles.