Alcohol

Many people drink alcohol at least occasionally. Current evidence from the WHO shows that no level of alcohol consumption is completely safe for health — if you drink, drinking less is better than drinking more, and some people should not drink at all.

If you are going to drink, it helps to know how alcohol affects your body and what counts as too much.

How does alcohol affect the body?

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant — a drug that slows down brain activity. It can change your mood, behaviour, and self-control. It can cause problems with memory and thinking clearly, and can affect coordination and physical control.

Alcohol also affects other organs. It can raise your blood pressure and heart rate. If you drink too much at once, it can cause vomiting.

Why are alcohol's effects different from person to person?

Alcohol's effects depend on many factors, including:

• How much you drink
• How often you drink
• Your age
• Your sex
• Your genetics
• Your overall health
• Any family history of alcohol problems

What is a standard drink?

A "standard drink" is a unit used to measure how much pure alcohol you are consuming. The WHO standard is about 10 grams of pure alcohol per drink. In practical terms, this is roughly:

• A small peg (30 ml) of spirits (about 40% ABV)
• A small 330 ml bottle of beer (about 5% ABV)
• A 100 ml glass of wine (about 12% ABV)

So a 650 ml "big" beer bottle or a large peg (60 ml) of spirits is about 2 standard drinks.

Who should not drink alcohol?

Some people should not drink at all, including those who:

• Are in recovery from an alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Cannot control the amount they drink
• Are under the legal drinking age for their state (it varies across India — 18 in some states, 21 or 25 in others; alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat, Bihar, Mizoram, Nagaland, and parts of Manipur and Lakshadweep)
• Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Are taking medicines that interact with alcohol
• Have medical conditions that can get worse with alcohol
• Are planning to drive
• Are going to operate machinery or do activities needing skill, coordination, or alertness

If you have questions about whether it is safe for you to drink, talk to your doctor.

What is excessive drinking?

Excessive drinking includes binge drinking and heavy use:

• Binge drinking means drinking enough to raise your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher in a short period — typically 5 or more standard drinks for men, or 4 or more for women, within a few hours.
• Heavy alcohol use means, for men, more than 5 drinks on any day or more than 15 drinks per week; for women, more than 4 on any day or 8 per week.

Binge drinking raises your risk of injuries, road traffic accidents, and alcohol overdose, and the risk of being violent or becoming a victim of violence.

Heavy alcohol use over a long period of time may cause:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Liver diseases, including cirrhosis and fatty liver disease
• Heart diseases
• Increased risk of certain cancers — including mouth, throat, oesophageal, liver, and breast cancer
• Increased risk of injuries

Heavy drinking can also cause problems at home, at work, and in friendships. Treatment can help.