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Alcohol
Summary
If you are like many Americans, you drink alcohol at least occasionally. For many people, moderate drinking is probably safe. But drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. And there are some people who should not drink at all.
Because drinking too much can be harmful, it’s important to know how alcohol affects you and how much is too much.
How does alcohol affect the body?
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. This means that it is a drug that slows down brain activity. It can change your mood, behavior, and self-control. It can cause problems with memory and thinking clearly. Alcohol can also affect your coordination and physical control.
Alcohol also has effects on the other organs in your body. For example, it can raise your blood pressure and heart rate. If you drink too much at once, it could make you throw up.
Why are the effects of alcohol different from person to person?
Alcohol’s effects vary from person to person, depending on a variety of factors, including:
- How much you drank
- How quickly you drank it
- The amount of food you ate before drinking
- Your age
- Your sex
- Your race or ethnicity
- Your physical condition
- Whether or not you have a family history of alcohol problems
What is moderate drinking?
- For most women, moderate drinking is no more than one standard drink a day
- For most men, moderate drinking is no more than two standard drinks a day
Even though moderate drinking may be safe for many people, there are still risks. Moderate drinking can raise the risk of death from certain cancers and heart diseases.
What is a standard drink?
In the United States, a standard drink is one that contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:
- 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content)
- 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content)
- 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of distilled spirits or liquor (40% alcohol content)
Who should not drink alcohol?
Some people should not drink alcohol at all, including those who:
- Are recovering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD) or are unable to control the amount they drink
- Are under age 21
- Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
- Are taking medicines that can interact with alcohol
- Have medical conditions that get can worse if you drink alcohol
- Are planning on driving
- Will be operating machinery
If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to drink, talk with your health care provider.
What is excessive drinking?
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use:
- Binge drinking is drinking so much at once that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08% or more. For a man, this usually happens after having 5 or more drinks within a few hours. For a woman, it is after about 4 or more drinks within a few hours.
- Heavy alcohol use is having having more than 4 drinks on any day for men or more than 3 drinks for women
Binge drinking raises your risk of injuries, car crashes, and alcohol poisoning. It also puts you of becoming violent or being the victim of violence.
Heavy alcohol use over a long period of time may cause health problems such as:
- Alcohol use disorder
- Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease
- Heart diseases
- Increased risk for certain cancers
- Increased risk of injuries
Heavy alcohol use can also cause problems at home, at work, and with friends. But treatment can help.
NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Related Issues
- Alcohol Alert: Alcohol’s Damaging Effects on the Brain National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Alcohol Alert: Link Between Stress and Alcohol National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Alcohol and Caffeine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Antidepressants and Alcohol: What’s the Concern? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Drugged Driving National Institute on Drug Abuse
- Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Risky Drinking Can Put a Chill on Your Summer Fun National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- The Truth About Holiday Spirits National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Using Alcohol to Relieve Your Pain: What Are the Risks? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Statistics and Research
- Alcohol and Cancer Risk National Cancer Institute
- Alcohol Facts and Statistics National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Alcohol-Related Deaths Increase Nationwide National Institutes of Health
- Deaths from Excessive Alcohol Use in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Start Here
- Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Alcohol Topics National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Alcohol Use: Weighing Risks and Benefits Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Hangovers National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- How Many Is Too Many? When Drinking Becomes a Problem National Institutes of Health
- Overview of Alcohol Consumption National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Health Check Tools
- Alcohol Calorie Calculator National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Calculators National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Interactive Worksheets and More National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Specifics
- Alcohol Poisoning Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Alcohol’s Effects on the Body National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Drinking Levels Defined National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Patient Handouts
- Alcohol use and safe drinking Medical Encyclopedia
- Calorie count – Alcoholic beverages Medical Encyclopedia
- Deciding to quit drinking alcohol Medical Encyclopedia
- Do you have a drinking problem? Medical Encyclopedia
- Health risks of alcohol use Medical Encyclopedia
- Weight loss and alcohol Medical Encyclopedia
- When you are drinking too much – tips for cutting back Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Alcohol Use Screening Tests National Library of Medicine
- Blood Alcohol Level National Library of Medicine
Encyclopedia
- Breath alcohol test Medical Encyclopedia
- Ethanol poisoning Medical Encyclopedia
- Responsible drinking Medical Encyclopedia
- Wine and heart health Medical Encyclopedia
Prevention and Risk Factors
- College Drinking – Changing the Culture National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Tips to Try — Rethinking Drinking National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Women
- Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Women’s Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Women and Alcohol National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Men
- Excessive Alcohol Use Is a Risk to Men’s Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Older Adults
- Facts about Aging and Alcohol National Institute on Aging
- Older Adults and Alcohol National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Find an Expert
- FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Getting Help National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism