No matter how skinny the cocktail or how light the beer, there’s no getting around the fact that alcohol isn’t good for you. Drinking too much – either all at once or steadily over a long period of time – can cause serious health problems. Liver damage, heart disease, and a weakened immune system are just some of the side effects that can result from alcohol abuse.

Drinking in moderation can be okay, but there are certain alcoholic beverages that are worse for your health than others. If you’re trying to keep your alcohol consumption under control, here are some drinks you might want to stay away from.

1. Piña Colada

The typical piña colada contains hundreds of calories and is laden with sugar; basically, it’s a lot of caloric intake with very little nutritional value. The same can be said of many other frozen cocktails that rely on sweet mixers and dairy products for flavors, such as mudslides, daiquiris, and slushy margaritas.

2. Vodka Red Bull

A few vodka Red Bulls may help to keep you awake, but alcohol mixed with a caffeinated energy drink is one of the worst beverages for your health. Not only is it packed with sugar, but the combination of the stimulant caffeine and the depressant alcohol can also be dangerous. Researchers have discovered that the mixture can cause permanent damage, irreversibly altering your brain chemistry. It can also give you the urge to drink more, leading to alcohol abuse and risky behaviors.

3. Mai Tai

Tropical drinks, like Mai Tais, are usually made with sugar-heavy juices and, occasionally, pre-made mixes. The excessive calories contained in fruity cocktails like this can displace more nutritious foods and well-rounded meals, causing you not only to gain weight but also to become undernourished.

4. Beer

When it comes to beer, both caloric and alcohol content vary widely from brew to brew. Generally, craft beers with a high percentage of alcohol tend to contain far more calories than light beers. The danger with light beers, however, is that many people will end up drinking more of them to achieve the same buzz – and, in the process, they consume far more calories than they ever intended.

5. Eggnog

You might think it’s okay to overindulge in eggnog since it’s a seasonal beverage that only comes around once a year. But a typical glass of eggnog has over 400 calories and is made with egg yolk, milk, and heavy cream – all of which are guaranteed to exceed your recommended daily intake of saturated fat and cholesterol. Even before you add the alcohol, this beverage is bad for you.

You can live a sober, healthy life with help from The Pearson Center

Of course, the occasional Mai Tai won’t hurt you, but it’s important to know the signs of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. If you’re finding it difficult to drink in moderation, you may have an alcohol addiction. Help is available. Many people learn to live sober, healthy lives with the help of support groups, addiction counselors, and rehabilitation programs. If you’re struggling to stop drinking, reach out and ask for help today. Give us a call at (858) 784-7867.