Whether you’re 17 and just had your first ever vodka-red bull shot, or if 15 years later you’ve had a rough week at work and resort to some whisky to forget about your unfinished paperwork, we’ve all heard and ignored the phrase ‘alcohol kills brain cells’… sorry dad.

The good news is that this isn’t true. Alcohol consumption does not kill brain cells, not even in heavy drinkers.

But before you open your celebratory bottle of champagne, know that alcohol can indeed cause brain damage. Studies have found that alcohol damages branched ends of nerve cells called dendrites, which pass on messages between brain cells. This changes the structure of neurons, reduces communication between them and can cause it to deteriorate – definitely bad news.

Alcohol is very problematic. Excessive alcohol consumption causes learning impairments and can decrease cognition.

Bottom line: enjoying a drink or two during weekends won’t cause any harm, more can, so drink responsibly and neither your short-term memory nor your Sunday morning will be killed off.