National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Limit Alcohol
If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation (women no more than 1 drink a day; men no more than 2 drinks a day). Avoid "binge drinking." If you are concerned about your drinking, talk to your VA health care team about getting help.
What's Important to Know?
If you choose to drink alcohol, drink in moderation. Women and all people over age 64 should drink no more than 1 drink per day (and not more than 7 drinks per week), and men should drink no more than 2 drinks per day (and not more than 14 drinks per week). One drink is equivalent to:
- 12 oz. regular beer, usually about 5% alcohol or
- 8-9 oz. malt liquor, or
- 5 oz. table wine (12%), or
- 1.5 oz. 80-proof hard liquor
Drinking too much alcohol or “binge drinking” can lead to a higher risk of health problems, such as liver damage or other injuries. Binge drinking can be defined as:
- More than 3 drinks on one occasion for women and adults over age 64
- More than 4 drinks on one occasion for men
For many adults, drinking small amounts of alcohol does not cause serious health problems. Women who drink no more than 1 drink a day (and not more than 7 drinks per week) and men who drink no more than 2 drinks a day (and not more than 14 drinks per week) are at low-risk for developing problems with alcohol use. However, as we age, our bodies do not process alcohol as easily, and the limits for all people over age 64 are no more than 1 drink a day and 7 per week. In addition, there are people such as children, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions who should not drink any alcohol.
Want to Know More?
Your VA health care team can help if you have questions about limiting alcohol. If you are concerned about your drinking, talk with them. They can help you reduce risky drinking. Alcohol dependence can be treated. Effective treatments include individual counseling, group treatments, medications to reduce craving or prevent relapse, and inpatient or residential treatment.
Resources
- Veterans Health Library:
https://www.veteranshealthlibrary.va.gov - National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA):
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health - VHA National Center for PTSD
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/related/problem_alcohol_use.asp
