While there’s no research suggesting an amount of alcohol that actually benefits us, there is some anecdotal evidence that drinking small amounts regularly is much better for us than going all-out every now and then - take the Blue Zones, where drinking a little is part of the culture.

But the experts all agree that drinking to excess is bad, both mentally and physically.

“Alcohol is linked to various cancers and around 200 other diseases,” says sober coach Anna Sudbury. “Binge-drinking increases these risks, but there are multiple other ways alcohol can cause damage.”

Physical impact of binge-drinking

Raised blood sugar

“Even one night of binging alcohol messes with your blood sugars and glucose levels - that’s why you are so hungry the next day,” explains Sudbury. “It raises both your cholesterol and your blood pressure, as well as your stress hormones - adrenaline and cortisol. Both of these are released in times of high stress and stop your body functioning efficiently and effectively.”

Disrupted digestion

Alcohol stops your gut from digesting food efficiently – you might notice a ‘booze bloat’ or a funny tummy.

“Gut health is also linked to your mental health, so the ‘booze blues’ or ‘beer fear’ might hit the next day,” warns Sudbury.

Sluggish liver function

Drinking alcohol also prevents your organs (in particular your liver, kidneys and heart) from working as well as they should – your liver alone has 500 vital functions and can’t function at its best when it’s also dealing with alcohol in the body.

Poor sleep

And last but not least, while you might crash out easily after a night of drinking, you won’t be getting quality sleep. “Alcohol stops you achieving REM sleep, affecting memory consolidation, brain development and emotional processing,” says Sudbury.

#WineMaths is trending – but here’s what binge-drinking really does to your body (and mind)