The Dangers of Alcohol

The Dangers of Alcohol The dangers of alcohol begin at the first sip of the first drink. Although most responsible drinking habits shouldn’t be cause for major concern, everyone who drinks runs the risk of encountering the negative effects of alcohol. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate drinking as up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men.  A single drink is considered as: 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 of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey) The Dangers of Alcohol to the Body Brain Alcohol severely impacts the way the brain works. Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, which can cause mood changes, behavioral changes, poor decision-making, poor coordination, slurred speech, hallucinations, blackouts, blurry vision, and lowered inhibitions. Organs Drinking alcohol can cause damage to the internal organs, such as: Irregular heartbeat Stroke High blood pressure Fatty liver Fibrosis Pancreatitis Stomach and digestive issues Liver damage and failure Issues with the throat, mouth, and esophagus Frequent binge-drinking, or drinking regularly over a long period of time, can cause severe irreversible damage to these organs. It can also lead to failure of vital organs which leads to coma or death. Development For young people, drinking can disrupt normal ho...
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