Harry Wallop decided to run a blunt little experiment on himself to see what seven days of heavier drinking might do to his body and mind. Before he started, he went 10 days without alcohol and had a set of medical tests done, then spent a week saying yes to every drink offered. He described it as a way to find out what could happen after a stretch of festive, no-thank-you-free indulgence.
Over those seven days, Wallop logged 51 units of alcohol, far above the commonly cited guideline of 14 units a week. His first day set the tone, with a holiday get-together and his son’s 23rd birthday adding up to 11.2 units. The rest of the week looked like the kind of calendar many people recognize in December, pints with colleagues, wine at a school concert, more wine at a birthday party, then whisky alongside a Christmas film. Even when he tried to ease up around day five, the pattern kept rolling.
By day six he took a break, but day seven swung back hard with 10.7 units during a trip to Berlin that ended with a concert. The point wasn’t a dramatic binge in one night, but the steady drip of drinking opportunities that can feel almost automatic when the season is busy. It’s the cumulative effect that makes a week like this interesting, and a little unsettling.
After the week was over, he repeated the tests and the results were a mixed bag. His blood work showed liver enzymes still sitting within healthy ranges, which led him to believe he hadn’t done major short-term damage there. But other measures shifted in ways that didn’t feel so reassuring. His grip strength dropped from 39.7 to 34.3 kilograms, and the testing pointed to reduced muscle activation and general fatigue.
His balance also took a hit, going from 10 seconds standing on one leg to just three. Brain tests showed slower reactions and weaker memory, and his resting heart rate fell from 70 to 61 beats per minute. Doctors told him that wasn’t a sign of improved fitness, but a short-term dampening effect alcohol can have on the nervous system. Even his recovery quality during sleep dropped sharply, from 90.5 to 73 points, hinting at a week that drained both physical and mental reserves more than it restored them.
What do you notice in your own body after a stretch of social drinking, and what helps you reset afterward? Share your thoughts in the comments.
