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Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to alcohol
Drinking levels
Excessive alcohol use
Drinking problems
Special populations
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.
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How does alcohol affect a person?
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.
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Why do some people react differently to alcohol than others?
Individual reactions to alcohol vary, and are influenced by many
factors, including but not limited to
- Age.
- Gender.
- Race or ethnicity.
- Physical condition (weight, fitness level, etc).
- Amount of food consumed before drinking.
- How quickly the alcohol was consumed.
- Use of drugs or prescription medicines.
- Family history of alcohol problems.
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What is a standard drink in the United States?
A standard drink is equal to
13.7 grams (0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol or
- 12-ounces of beer.
- 8-ounces of malt liquor.
- 5-ounces of wine.
- 1.5-ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor
(e.g., gin, rum, vodka, or whiskey).
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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 ethanol consumed that affects a person most, not the type of
alcoholic drink.
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What does moderate drinking mean?
There is no one definition of moderate drinking, but generally the
term is used to describe a lower risk pattern of drinking. According to
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,1 drinking in
moderation is defined as having no more than 1 drink per day for women
and no more than 2 drinks per day for men. This definition is referring
to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an
average over several days.
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Is it safe to drink alcohol and drive?
No, alcohol use slows reaction time and impairs judgment and
coordination, which are all skills needed to drive a car safely.2
The more alcohol consumed, the greater the impairment.
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What does it mean to be above the legal limit for drinking?
The legal limit for drinking is the alcohol level above which an
individual is subject to legal penalties (e.g., arrest or loss of a
driver's license).
- Legal limits are measured using either a blood alcohol test or a
breathalyzer.
- Legal limits are typically defined by state law, and may vary
based on individual characteristics such as age and occupation.
All states in the United States have adopted 0.08% (80 mg/dL) as the legal limit
for operating a motor vehicle for drivers aged 21 years or older.
However, drivers under age 21 years are not allowed to operate a motor
vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system.
Note: Legal limits do not define a level below which it is safe to
operate a vehicle or engage in some other activity. Impairment due to
alcohol use begins to occur at levels well below the legal limit.
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How do I know if it’s okay to drink?
The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans1 recommend
that if you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, you do not exceed 1
drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men. These guidelines
also specify that there are some people who should not drink alcoholic
beverages at all, including
- Children and adolescents.
- Individuals of any age who cannot limit their drinking to low
levels.
- Women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant.
- Individuals who plan to drive, operate machinery, or take part
in other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination.
- Individuals taking prescription or over-the-counter medications
that can interact with alcohol.
- Individuals with certain medical conditions.
- Persons recovering from alcoholism.
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What do you mean by heavy drinking?
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming
an average of more than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is
typically defined as consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day.
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What is binge drinking?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, binge drinking is defined as a pattern of
alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
level to 0.08% or above. 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, generally within about 2 hours.3
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What is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse?
Alcoholism or alcohol dependence is a diagnosable disease
characterized by several factors, including a strong craving for
alcohol, continued use despite harm or personal injury, the inability to
limit drinking, physical illness when drinking stops, and the need to
increase the amount drunk to feel the effects.4
Alcohol abuse is a pattern of drinking that results in harm to one’s
health, interpersonal relationships, or ability to work. Certain
manifestations of alcohol abuse include failure to fulfill
responsibilities at work, school or home; drinking in dangerous
situations, such as while driving; legal problems associated with
alcohol use; and continued drinking despite problems that are caused or
worsened by drinking. Alcohol abuse can lead to alcohol dependence.4
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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 detrimental to health for a variety of
reasons, including, but not limited to
- 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.5
- 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 because of depression of the central nervous system.
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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.
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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.6
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What health problems are associated with
excessive alcohol use?
Excessive drinking both in the form of heavy drinking or
binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, including
but not limited to
- Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver
cells); pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas); various
cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and
esophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders.
- Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes,
falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
- Violence, such as child maltreatment, homicide and suicide.
- Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant,
such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Alcohol abuse or dependence.
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I’m young. Is drinking bad for my health?
Yes.7,8 Studies have shown that alcohol use by youth and
young adults increases the risk of both fatal and nonfatal injuries.9,10,11 Research has also shown that youth who use alcohol before
age 15 are five times more likely to become alcohol dependent than
adults who begin drinking at age 21.12 Other consequences of
youth alcohol use include increased risky sexual behaviors, poor school
performance, and increased risk of suicide and homicide.13,14,15
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Is it okay to drink when pregnant?
No, there is no safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. Women who
are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant should refrain from drinking
alcohol.16 Several conditions, including
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorders
have been linked to alcohol use during pregnancy. Women of child bearing
age should also avoid binge drinking to reduce
the risk of unintended pregnancy and potential exposure of a developing
fetus to alcohol.
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References
- United States Department of
Agriculture and United States Department of Health and Human Services.
In: Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Chapter 9 – Alcoholic Beverages.
Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office; 2005, p. 43–46. Available
at
http://www.health.gov/DIETARYGUIDELINES/dga2005/document/html/chapter9.htm.
Accessed March 28, 2008.
- National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration. Available at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/.
Accessed March 28, 2008.
- National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
NIAAA council
approves definition of binge drinking (PDF–1.6Mb) NIAAA Newsletter
2004;3:3.
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),
4th edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric
Association; 2000.
- Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fas/default.htm.
Accessed March 31, 2008.
- Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration. Available at
http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/treatment_public_i.aspx.
Accessed March 28, 2008.
- National Research Council and Institute of Medicine.
Reducing Underage Drinking: A Collective Responsibility.* Committee
on Developing a Strategy to Reduce and Prevent Underage Drinking.
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington,
DC: The National Academies Press; 2004.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General's
Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking. Rockville, MD:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2007. Available at
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/underagedrinking/. Accessed
March 28, 2008.
- Hingson RW, Heeren T, Jamanka A, Howland J.
Age of onset and
unintentional injury involvement after drinking. JAMA 2000; 284(12):1527–1533.
- Hingson RW, Heeren T, Winter M, Wechsler H.
Magnitude of
alcohol-related mortality and morbidity among U.S. college students ages
18–24: Changes from 1998 to 2001. Annu Rev Public Health 2005; 26:259–79.
- Levy DT, Mallonee S, Miller TR, Smith GS, Spicer RS, Romano EO,
Fisher DA.
Alcohol involvement in burn, submersion, spinal cord,
and brain injuries. Medical Science Monitor 2004;10(1):CR17–24.
- Office of Applied Studies.
The NSDUH Report: Alcohol dependence or abuse and age at first use.
Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, October 2004. Available at
http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k4/ageDependence/ageDependence.htm.
Accessed March 31, 2008.
- Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration. A Comprehensive Plan for Preventing and
Reducing Underage Drinking. Washington, DC: 2006. Available at
http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/media/underagedrinking/pdf/underagerpttocongress.pdf
(PDF). Accessed March 28, 2008.
- Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI). Atlanta,
GA: CDC. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/ardi.htm.
Accessed March 28, 2008.
- Miller JW, Naimi TS, Brewer
RD, Jones SE. Binge drinking and associated health risk behaviors among
high school students. Pediatrics.
2007;119:76–85.
- Department of Health and
Human Services. U.S. Surgeon General Releases Advisory on Alcohol Use in
Pregnancy; urges women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant to
abstain from alcohol. Released Monday, February 21, 2005. Available at
http://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/pressreleases/sg02222005.html.
Accessed March 31, 2008.
* Links to non-Federal organizations are
provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an
endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none
should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual
organization Web pages found at this link.
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Page last reviewed: August 6, 2008
Page last modified: August 6, 2008
Content source: Division of Adult and Community Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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