Also called: Also called: Drinking
If you are like many Americans, you drink alcohol at least occasionally. For many people, moderate drinking is probably safe. It may even have health benefits, including reducing your risk of certain heart problems. Moderate drinking is one drink a day for women or anyone over 65, and two drinks a day for men under 65.
Some people should not drink at all, including alcoholics, children, pregnant women, people on certain medicines and people with some medical conditions. If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to drink, speak with your healthcare provider.
Anything more than moderate drinking can be risky. Binge drinking - drinking five or more drinks at one time - can damage your health and increase your risk for accidents, injuries and assault. Years of heavy drinking can lead to liver disease, heart disease, cancer and pancreatitis. It can also cause problems at home, at work and with friends.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Alcohol-Online Tests(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.atgetfit.net/alcohol/tests/default.aspx
- Questions and Answers on Alcohol Consumption(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm
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What's a Standard Drink?(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - Links to PDF - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/1D2BE3DF-18D7-47EE-98C5-E907C7611929/0/StandardDrink.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/0288989D-6328-43D0-8F79-46D87DC25655/0/StandardDrinkSP.pdf
- Alcohol(Harvard School of Public Health) - http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/alcohol/index.html
- Alcohol Use: Why Moderation Is Key(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcohol/SC00024/METHOD=print
- Moderate Drinking May Help Lower Heart Failure Risk(09/22/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69539.html
- For Even Healthy Men, Alcohol Seems to Lower Heart Attack Risk(09/05/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68979.html
- Neighborhood Alcohol Outlets Tied to Kids' Injury Risk(09/04/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68929.html
- Micro RNA Implicated as Molecular Factor in Alcohol Tolerance(07/30/2008, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jul2008/niaaa-30.htm
- More News on Alcohol Consumption http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_a.html#alcoholconsumption
- Alcohol Alert: Brief Interventions(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA66/AA66.htm
- College Drinking - Changing the Culture(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/
- Discussing Drinking: A Back-to-School Conversation You Need to Have(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2006/September/docs/01features_01.htm
- Fall Semester - A Time for Parents to Revisit Discussions about College Drinking(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/NIAAACollegeMaterials/collegeFactSheetForParents.aspx
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How to Cut Down on Your Drinking(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm
Also available in Spanish http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/spancut.htm
- Parents - Spring Break Is Another Important Time to Discuss College Drinking(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - Links to PDF - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/NIAAASpringBreakFactSheet2007.pdf
- Alcohol Alert: Alcohol and Tobacco(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA71/AA71.htm
- Alcohol Alert: Alcohol's Damaging Effects on the Brain(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa63/aa63.htm
- Alcohol Allergy: Is There Such a Thing?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcohol-allergy/AN00818/METHOD=print
- Alcohol and Cancer(American Cancer Society) - Links to PDF - http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PRO/alcohol.pdf
- Alcohol Poisoning(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/alcohol-poisoning/DS00861/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Alcohol: Dietary Guidelines for Americans(National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) - http://www.ncadd.org/facts/health.html
- Alcohol: Does It Affect Blood Pressure?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/blood-pressure/AN00318/METHOD=print
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Drugged Driving(National Institute on Drug Abuse) - http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/driving-Sp.html
- Hangovers(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/hangovers/DS00649/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Harmful Interactions: Mixing Alcohol with Medicines(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Medicine/medicine.htm
Also available in Spanish http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/MedSpanish/medicine.htm
- New Year, Old Myths, New Fatalities(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - Links to PDF - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/NewYearsFactSheet2006.pdf
- Party Planning Tips for an Alcohol-Safe and Drug-Free Holiday Season to Remember(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://download.ncadi.samhsa.gov/prevline/pdfs/partytips.pdf
- Tips for Cutting Down on Drinking(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Tips/tips.htm
- Alcohol Calorie Calculator(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/CollegeStudents/calculator/alcoholcalc.aspx
- Alcohol Use Self-Assessment: Rate Your Drinking Habits(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/alcohol-use/MH00123
- Alcohol-Online Tests(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.atgetfit.net/alcohol/tests/default.aspx
- Article: Alcohol and nonlethal injuries: a Swiss emergency department study on... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18580530&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Eye malformations in children with heavy alcohol exposure in utero. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18571671&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Alcohol and tobacco use, and cancer risk for upper aerodigestive... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18562959&tool=MedlinePlus
- Alcohol Consumption -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=((alcohol+drinking/ae[majr]+OR+alcoholic+intoxication[majr])+NOT+ethanol[mh])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Benefits of alcohol drinking -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(alcohol+drinking[majr]+OR+alcoholic+beverages[majr]+OR+ethanol[majr]+AND+therapeutic+use[sh])+NOT+adverse+effects[sh]+AND+(cardiovascular+diseases/pc[mh]+OR+stress/pc[mh]+OR+cholesterol[mh]+OR+mortality[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+3+Years&tool=MedlinePlus
- Binge drinking -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(alcohol+drinking[mh]+OR+alcoholic+intoxication[mh])+AND+ethanol/poisoning[mh]+OR+(binge[ti]+AND+drinking[ti])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Drinking and driving -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(alcohol+drinking[mh]+OR+alcoholic+intoxication[mh])+AND+(automobile+driving[majr]+OR+accidents,traffic[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Getting Help(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/links/help.aspx
- Al-Anon/Alateen(Alateen, Al-Anon) - http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
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Alcoholics Anonymous - http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.aa.org/sp_index.cfm?Media=PlayFlash
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
- Alcohol-Related Traffic Deaths(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - Links to PDF - http://www.nih.gov/about/researchresultsforthepublic/AlcoholRelatedTrafficDeaths.pdf
- College Students and Alcohol Abuse Statistics(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/collegestats_new.cfm
- FASTATS: Alcohol Use(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/alcohol.htm
- General Information on Alcohol Use and Health(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/quickstats/general_info.htm
- Polydrug Admissions: 2002(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/polydrugTX/polydrugTX.htm
- Quantity and Frequency of Alcohol Use among Underage Drinkers(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/underage/underage.htm
- Quick Facts: Alcohol Topics(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Resources/DatabaseResources/QuickFacts/
- Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/StatsSummaries/snapshot.aspx
- State Estimates of Persons 18 or Older Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Illicit Drugs(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k8/stateDUI/stateDUI.htm
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Alcohol: A Women's Health Issue(National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) - http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochurewomen/women.htm
Also available in Spanish http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/WomenSpanish/Women_Spanish.pdf
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As You Age...A Guide to Aging, Medicines, and Alcohol(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - Links to PDF - http://asyouage.samhsa.gov/media/asyouage/asyouagebrochure01.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://kap.samhsa.gov/mli/docs/spanish/AgingMed-Spanish.pdf
- Substance Use among Older Adults: 2002 and 2003 Update(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k5/olderadults/olderadults.htm
- Alcohol and Youth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholandyouth.html
- Alcoholism - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholism.html
- Food and Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodandnutrition.html
- Substance Abuse Problems - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/substanceabuseproblems.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Alcohol Consumption is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism - http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
Alcohol Consumption - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/alcoholconsumption.html