What is alcohol?

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches.

Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others?

Alcohol affects every organ in the body. It is a central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver by enzymes. However, the liver can only metabolize a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed.

What is a standard drink in the United States?

A standard drink is equal to 14.0 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. Generally, this amount of pure alcohol is found in

• 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).
• 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).
• 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).
• 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).

Is beer or wine safer to drink than liquor?

No. One 12-ounce beer has about the same amount of alcohol as one 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. It is the amount of alcohol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of alcoholic drink.

What does moderate drinking mean?

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women, when alcohol is consumed. Drinking less is better for health than drinking more.

What is excessive alcohol use?

Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, any alcohol use by people under the age 21 minimum legal drinking age, and any alcohol use by pregnant women.

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or more. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women.

What does it mean to get drunk?

“Getting drunk” or intoxicated is the result of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Binge drinking typically results in acute intoxication.

Alcohol intoxication can be harmful for a variety of reasons, including:

• Impaired brain function resulting in poor judgment, reduced reaction time, loss of balance and motor skills, or slurred speech.
• Dilation of blood vessels, causing a feeling of warmth but resulting in rapid loss of body heat.
• Increased risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver diseases (e.g., cirrhosis), particularly when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed over extended periods of time.
• Damage to a developing fetus if consumed by pregnant women.
• Increased risk of motor-vehicle traffic crashes, violence, and other injuries.

Coma and death can occur if alcohol is consumed rapidly and in large amounts.

What do you mean by heavy drinking?

For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking and heavy drinking.

Note: Any drinking by people who are pregnant or younger than age 21 is also considered excessive drinking.

Short-Term Health Risks

Drinking too much has immediate effects that increase the risk of many harmful outcomes. These are often from binge drinking.

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, and burns.
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, and sexual assault.
• Alcohol poisoning.
• Behaviors that can result in unintended pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted infection or HIV.
• Miscarriage and birth defects.

Long-Term Health Effects

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to chronic diseases and other serious health problems, including:

• Heart and liver disease, and stroke
• Cancer
• Weakened immune system
• Dementia
• Mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety
• Social or family problems
• Alcohol use disorders

The Price We Pay

Excessive alcohol use is associated with about 178,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. The cost of excessive alcohol use on the U.S. economy is similarly steep.

In 2010, excessive alcohol use cost this country $249 billion. That works out to about $2.05 per drink. The average cost per person was $807. And 77% of these costs were attributed to binge drinking.

Do all excessive drinkers have an alcohol use disorder?

No. About 90% of people who drink excessively would not be expected to meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for having a severe alcohol use disorder. A severe alcohol use disorder, previously known as alcohol dependence or alcoholism, is a chronic disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of a severe alcohol use disorder could include:

• Inability to limit drinking.
• Continuing to drink despite personal or professional problems.
• Needing to drink more to get the same effect.
• Wanting a drink so badly you can’t think of anything else.

How do I know if I have a drinking problem?

Drinking is a problem if it causes trouble in your relationships, in school, in social activities, or in how you think and feel. If you are concerned that either you or someone in your family might have a drinking problem, consult your personal health care provider.

What can I do if I or someone I know has a drinking problem?

Consult your personal health care provider if you feel you or someone you know has a drinking problem. Other resources include the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service, available at 1-800-662-HELP. This service can provide you with information about treatment programs in your local community and allow you to speak with someone about alcohol problems.

Drinking too much impacts your mind, your body, your life.

The effects of drinking too much are commonly felt by others.

The effects of excessive drinking, including binge drinking, on your body.

Binge drinking puts you at risk of short- and long-term health problems. These problems include hangovers, injuries, overdoses, alcohol use disorder, heart and liver disease, and cancer.

One third of all deaths related to alcohol use are due to binge drinking.

Being alcohol impaired can lead to significant lapses in judgment and decreased impulse control and coordination—all of which increase the likelihood of getting hurt.

Binge drinking can also lead to poor decision-making and regret. It can result in a range of physical and social consequences including violence, sexually transmitted infections or HIV, and sexual risk behaviors.

The effects of drinking less include changes—for the better.

Fortunately, the effects from drinking too much are preventable.

Don’t binge drink. Adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women. Not drinking at all may be the best option for some people, including people who are pregnant or might be pregnant, those taking certain drugs or medications, or people who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or cannot control their alcohol intake.

Any time you drink, you can choose to drink less. For your health, your future, and for those around you.

If adults of legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for their health than drinking more.

Ready to drink less, but don’t know where to start?

Find What Works

Small changes can make a big difference. Whatever strategies you choose, give them a chance. If one approach doesn’t work, try something else.

Adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women. For those who drink alcohol and want to cut back on your drinking, these four strategies can help:

• Set limits. Decide how many days a week you plan to drink and how many drinks you plan to have. For instance, you might decide to only drink on a Friday night or Saturday night and have one drink. Schedule alcohol-free days every week.
• Count your drinks. Use an app on your mobile device to help. Understanding how much alcohol counts as a “standard” drink may also help.
• Manage your “triggers.” If certain people, places, or activities tempt you to drink more than you planned, you can avoid those triggers. For example, instead of a happy hour event with co-workers, suggest catching up at lunch instead. You may also want to remove certain alcohol products from your home.
• Find support. Ask for support from a friend, family member, healthcare provider, or someone else who will support your choice to drink less.

Note: Not drinking at all may be the best option for some people, including people who are pregnant or might be pregnant, those taking certain drugs or medications, or people who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or cannot control their alcohol intake.

Remember “The How”

Change can be hard, so it helps to have concrete reminders of why the change is important to you and how you’ve decided to do it.

• Make a change plan and print or save it to review later.
• Set up the alerts on your devices to remind you at times of the day you need it.
• Set your phone background to remind you why you want to drink less.
• Post sticky notes around your home with motivational messages.
• Let your friends and family members know about your change plan and ask for their support.

Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink can improve your short- and long-term health. Even small changes can make a big difference.

Excessive alcohol use was responsible for about 178,000 deaths in the United States each year during 2020–2021, or 488 deaths per day. This was a 29% increase from 2016–2017, when there were an estimated 138,000 deaths per year. These estimates are from the CDC’s Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) application. The ARDI application shows estimates of alcohol-attributable deaths and years of potential life lost from 58 conditions by age, sex, and state.

Each year, deaths from excessive drinking:

• Shortened the lives of those who died by an average of 23 years, for a total of about 4 million years of potential life lost.
• Usually involved adults aged 35 or older and males.

These deaths result from conditions that develop from drinking over long periods of time, as well as from binge drinking – or drinking too much on one occasion.

• Two thirds of the deaths (about 117,000 deaths) are due to chronic conditions that develop from long-term alcohol use, including various types of cancer, heart disease, liver disease, and alcohol use disorder.
• One third of these deaths (about 61,000 deaths) happen from drinking too much on one occasion, such as from motor vehicle crashes, poisonings involving substances in addition to alcohol, and suicides.

Excessive drinking is a leading cause of preventable death in the United States, and it is also costly. It cost the nation $249 billion in 2010 (the most recent year of data available).

Everyone Can Help Prevent Excessive Alcohol Use

You can:

• Choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day (if you’re a man) and 1 drink or less in a day (if you’re a woman), on days when alcohol is consumed. Some people should not drink any alcohol, including if they:
  • Are pregnant or might be pregnant.
  • Are younger than 21.
  • Have certain medical conditions or are taking certain medicines that can interact with alcohol.
  • Are recovering from an alcohol use disorder or are unable to control the amount they drink.
• Check your drinking, and learn more about the benefits of drinking less alcohol.
• Support effective community strategies to prevent excessive alcohol use, such as those recommended by the Community Preventive Services Task Force.
• Not serve or provide alcohol to anyone who should not be drinking, including people younger than 21 or those who have already consumed too much.
• Talk with your health care provider about your drinking behavior and request counseling if you drink too much.

States and communities can:

• Implement effective strategies for preventing excessive alcohol use to reduce the availability and accessibility of alcohol and increase its price, including regulating the number and concentration of alcohol outlets, limiting days and hours of alcohol sales, and avoiding further privatization of alcohol sales. Check out CDC’s alcohol outlet density measurement resources.
• Enforce existing laws and regulations about alcohol sales and service.
• Partner with law enforcement, community groups, health departments, and doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to reduce excessive drinking and related harms.
• Track the role of alcohol in injuries and deaths, with more routine alcohol toxicology testing among patients and people who have died.
• Routinely monitor and report on measures of excessive alcohol use and the status of effective alcohol policies.