# Quote help: "Thirty thousand brain cells killed with every swallow" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 31, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749 "2016-03-31T14:11:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/1 "2016-03-31T14:11:18Z")
Reading t[his](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=788756) GQ thread suddenly induced in me an oral memory of a child taunting “thirty thousand brain cells killed with every swallow”. Until I can put this memory into context I can’t get it out of my head. I think it was a movie (although it could be TV) probably from the late 80’s, and the scenario is something like this: a gruff guy is in some way saddled with a kid (maybe they were on a stake out and its his girlfriend’s kid) the kid is really getting on his nerves and so he pulls out a hip flask for some form of relief when the kid admonishes him with the above quote. It is firmly embedded into my memory so its probably something I watched multiple times. It could be kindergarten cop but I don’t think so. Any help here would be appreciated, otherwise I’m in for a sleepless night. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/2 "2016-03-31T15:19:42Z")
I couldn’t find that particular quote. A similar warning, “Three beers kill 10,000 brain cells," is on a number of sites but all of them refer to it merely as an urban myth with no source. Lots of sites contain a general statement of a myth that alcohol kills brain cells and go into nuanced detail about why this is wrong. What’s interesting is that they start around 2000 and don’t grow common until mid-way through the decade. That would be odd if the quote was remembered from childhood. More generally, I found a 1994 Atlantic article that talked about the 1970s myth that marijuana kills brain cells. And in the NCAA News for Jan. 20, 1988, an actual doctor, Arnold Washton, M.D., a “substance abuse recovery expert” was quoted by the Associated Press that “Alcohol is more toxic to the brain than cocaine. It kills brain cells. Cocaine won’t do that.” I can see that (minus the cocaine) being shouted in every locker room of every college across the country. With elaboration and false specifics. Bang. One urban myth. From there to a TV program or movie? Sure. Here are the closest. > [@](#): > > The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000) > Now, the question on the table is how drunk is drunk enough? And the answer is that it’s all a matter of brain cells > > Brain cells? > > That’s right Hardy. You see every drink of liquor you take kills a thousand brain cells. Now that doesn’t much matter 'cos we got billions more. And first the sadness cells die so you smile real big. And then the quiet cells go so you just say everything real loud for no reason at all. That’ok, that’s ok because the stupid cells go next, so everything you say is real smart. And finally, come the memory cells. These are tough sons of bitches to kill. > [@](#): > > ER (1994 TV Series) > Episode: Going Home (1994) > No, just a few brain cells. > [@](#): > > Summer School (1987) > Fact: Alcohol kills brain cells. You lose one more and you’re a talking monkey. > It makes sense, they share the same brain. > [@](#): > > Cheers (1982 TV Series) > Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/3 "2016-03-31T17:34:37Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Reading t[his](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=788756) GQ thread suddenly induced in me an oral memory of a child taunting “thirty thousand brain cells killed with every swallow”. Then my ex-wife is guilty of mass genocide of Chechnya proportions. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/4 "2016-03-31T17:43:01Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Then my ex-wife is guilty of mass genocide of Chechnya proportions. Those were _sperm_ cells killed with every swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/5 "2016-03-31T17:45:05Z")
You couldn’t just go with the friggin’ joke, eh? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2016, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quote-help-thirty-thousand-brain-cells-killed-with-every-swallow/750749/6 "2016-03-31T17:47:31Z")
Well, it’s like being a pilot - always looking for places to land.