Alcohol is thirst quenching
Not really. After the first satisfying effect, alcohol actually dehydrates, notably by stimulating more urine production. The hangover effect after drinking too much alcohol is due to this dehydration.

Alcohol gives strength
No, alcohol produces a sense of euphoria at first, which gives a feeling of strength. On the contrary, exhaustion on effort is very rapid, if not dangerous.

Alcohol is warming
The sensation of warmth is due to dilation of blood vessels in the skin. In reality, body temperature falls by one degree per 50 g fraction of alcohol absorbed. The sensation of warmth may thus mask a lowering of body temperature and lead to serious problems in cold weather.

Alcohol is less toxic if diluted with water
Mixing alcohol with water can ease ingestion by altering the taste, but it does not change the amount of alcohol absorbed.

Alcohol speeds up the reflexes
Absolutely not. Reaction times are altered from the first intake of alcohol. With a blood alcohol level of 0.80 g/l, the stopping distance of a car moving at 100 km/h is increased by 14 metres. In addition, poorly adapted movements and visual field problems may contribute to serious accidents.

Alcohol is not fattening
Alcohol provides 7 calories per gram. There are approximately 100 calories in a glass of wine. These calories seem to promote "bad fat" stores.

Exercise speeds up the elimination of alcohol
No, neither cold nor effort speed up elimination of alcohol, which is highly variable from individual to individual.

Men tolerate alcohol better than women
This is partly true, but must be qualified. For a similar quantity of alcohol, the blood alcohol level depends on the individual, whatever their sex. Several factors have an effect, including habituation, speed of elimination by the liver, body weight, medications, absorption of food, etc. Alcohol level in men and women depends on the individual, but affects behaviour in all cases.

There is as alcohol in each of these glasses...

What is true and what you need to know:

After drinking, blood alcohol (amount of alcohol in grams per litre of blood), measured by blood samples or breathalyser, rises rapidly. It reaches its maximum after about 1 hour if the drink is taken during a meal, and in about half an hour if taken on an empty stomach. Elimination of alcohol is much slower: every hour, blood alcohol reduces by about 0.15 g/l.

One glass of wine, one glass of beer, an aperitif or a liqueur produce an average blood alcohol level of 0.20 g/l in a man of 70 kg, and 0.33 g/l in a woman of 50 kg.