"One reason I don't drink is that I want to know when I am having a good time." ~Lady Astor

What is “moderate” alcohol consumption?
Moderate alcohol consumption, as defined by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, refers to the maximal daily intake of alcohol per day to be defined as a “moderate drinker”. For men, this means two drinks, and for women, one drink.
Note that this upper limit is set per day. Therefore, a person who does not consume any drinks on the weekdays, but consume six on a Saturday night, would not be considered a “Moderate” consumer of alcohol.

What counts as one drink? How many Calories are there?
The following are all the equivalent of “one drink” (that which provides ½ fluid ounce of pure alcohol):
12 oz (1.5 cups) Beer- 145 Calories (Regular), 110 Calories (Light)
10 oz (1.25 cups) Wine Cooler-200 Calories
4-5 oz (1/2 cup) Wine- 127 Calories
1.5 oz (1 shot) 80 Proof Whiskey, Scotch, Gin, or Vodka- 110 Calories

Does alcohol make you fat?
It can. The only other substance consumed by humans that contains more Calories per gram than alcohol is fat. Alcohol contains 7 Calories per gram, while Fat contains 9. Consuming alcohol in addition to food increases your overall Caloric intake for the day, which translates to weight gain, and the possible risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Alcohol, unlike food, contains Calories but does not cause a feeling of satiety (fullness). Therefore, you are consuming high amounts of “empty” Calories- those which are being consumed without causing this feeling of fullness. Empty Calories add up fast, especially when you’re consuming other foods to promote this feeling of fullness.

Alcohol is also linked to high abdominal adiposity- aka a higher percentage of abdominal fat. This is because the excess Calories from alcohol are converted to fat, and your liver converts the rest into acetate, which is released into the bloodstream and burned for energy, instead of the fat in your body. The accumulation of this fat leads to visceral (abdominal) fat storage.

“A commonly held misconception is that light beer is like diet coke - calorie and fat free. Although light beer does have fewer calories that the regular variety, the average light beer still contains upwards of 100 or more calories per 12 oz can, and regular beer ranges from approximately 140-200 calories,” said the University of Rochester Health Services Spokesperson.


Who should not consume alcohol at all?
Women who are or may become pregnant, women who are breastfeeding, people with an addictive nature (particularly those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), people with a history of alcoholism, people with a family history of alcoholism, those with other substance abuse issues, and those taking medications that interact with alcohol should not consume any alcohol whatsoever.
Additionally, those planning on driving, operating machinery, or completing tasks that require coordination should not consume alcohol prior to these tasks.

What types of medications have the risk to cause fatal or dangerous reactions with alcohol?
Most medications that have the possibility to mix fatally or dangerously with alcohol will usually carry a warning label. However, always consult a physician if you are unsure of how alcohol will affect you while on a medication.
Alcohol increase the effects of certain drugs, including various types of pain killers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, and other antianxiety medications. When mixed with alcohol, these drugs cause a loss of consciousness and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diabetic patients using insulin or oral medications to lower blood glucose levels can also be negatively affected by alcohol, which may cause blood glucose to dip to severely inappropriate levels for health.

What are some of the current health concerns regarding moderate alcohol consumption?
Current research suggests that some women may be at an increased risk for breast cancer when consuming low to moderate amounts of alcohol. Even as few as 2 drinks per day increases the risk of hypertension (also known as high blood pressure), and has been linked to a higher incidence of hemorrhagic strokes.

What are the health concerns regarding excessive consumption of alcohol?

Alcohol is considered a drug, because of its narcotic effect on every lobe of the brain. Alcohol acts both as a sedative and as a depressant. Chronic disease linked to high alcohol consumption include osteoporosis, diabetes, pancreatic injuries, and certain types of cancer (mouth, throat, liver, colon, stomach, esophagus, and breast).

The “misuse” of alcohol can occur in various forms, however, including:

Binge Drinking: Defined as the consumption of five or more alcoholic
substances on a single occasion (within a span of five hours). Occurs in high incidences amongst college students, with the highest incidence being amongst the male population, aged 18-25.

Binge Drinking increases the risk of potentially fatal injuries from a variety of activities including fights, falls, drowning, and car accidents. Violent acts are also common, including assault, sexual assault, and vandalism. Hangovers are also an inevitable consequence of this high level of alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Poisoning: Alcohol Poisoning is defined as a metabolic state that occurs as a result of binge drinking. When BAC reaches a certain level, the respiratory center of the brain becomes depressed. This depressed state does not allow for sufficient levels of oxygen to reach the brain.
This lack of oxygen causes a high risk of death by respiratory and cardiac failure.

Alcoholism: Also known as Chronic Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism is an addition to Alcoholic Substances, and is characterized by one or more the following aspects:
-Cravings and an urgent need to consume alcohol
-The inability to stop drinking once alcohol has been consumed
-The occurrence of sweating, shakiness, nausea, or other withdrawal symptoms after a lack of alcohol intake.
-The need to consume larger and larger amounts of alcoholic substances in orders to receive the same alcohol induced “high” or pleasurable sensations associated with the intake of alcohol.

But doesn’t alcohol provide some health benefits?

Moderate alcohol consumption (as defined above) has been linked to some health benefits. These benefits include lower rates of heart disease, increased levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and lowered levels of “bad” cholesterol, and the reduction of abnormal blood clots.
In addition, Red Wine contains an antioxidant (Reservatrol), which may lower the risk of chronic diseases such as liver and heart disease, as well as Diabetes. However, research regarding Reservatrol and its antioxidant effects are ongoing. Unfortunately, the research conducted thus far has shown that the amount needed to promote health would be so high that the antioxidant would have to be given in a pure supplement form.

Does alcohol really affect my brain?

Ever wonder why drunken people act the way they do? This is due to alcohol’s effect on the brain. Even when consumed at low or moderate levels, alcohol impairs reasoning and judgment, alters sleep patterns, interferes with normal sight and speech, and causes a loss of motor skill.

Mood swings, irritation, and intense bursts of anger are all common reactions to alcohol’s effects on the brain. However, many people also react in the opposite fashion, becoming quiet, withdrawn, and tired.

When teenagers or young adults consume large amounts of alcohol, the structure of the brain can be permanently altered and damaged, leading to a lack of intellectual function, a lack of memory capacity, permanent motor skill issues, and a permanent decrease in muscle coordination.

Alcohol poisoning also causes portions of the brain to shut down and effectively cause death. If a person ever loses consciousness after drinking her or she should never be assumed to be “fine” or be allowed to “sleep it off”. Instead, the following steps should be taken:

-The person should be laid on their side to prevent their choking on their vomit if vomiting does occur.

-Monitor the person carefully, watching them for cold or clammy skin, a gray or blue tint to their skin, or slow or irregular breathing patterns.

-If any of the above signs occur, or if you have any reason to believe that alcohol poisoning is present, call 911 immediately.


Why does alcohol affect the liver?

The liver is the main site for alcohol metabolism. When alcohol is consumed in excess, cells are damaged and destroyed. The longer that alcohol is consumed in amounts other than those described as “moderate”, the more damage that will occur.

Should I skip dinner before a night of drinking to reduce my number of overall Calories consumed?

No. And the reason why is explained below.

How does eating while consuming alcohol affect BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration)?

Consuming foods with protein, fiber, and fat while drinking can reduce BAC by up to 50% when compared to BAC on an empty stomach.


Why does alcohol affect women and men differently?

Alcohol is metabolized in the stomach and oxidized (broken down) in the liver. An enzyme called ADH in the stomach breaks starts the metabolizing process. In men, ADH is more active, which leaves less alcohol to be absorbed. In women, up to 35% more alcohol is left to be absorbed and oxidized by the liver.

How fast is alcohol metabolized, and where does it “go”?

On average, a standard adult will metabolized at a rate of one drink per hour. If you are to consume more than one drink per hour, even as few as two or three drinks, excess alcohol is secreted from the liver back into the bloodstream, causing behavioral reactions.

The alcohol is then carried via fluid throughout the body to all tissues, including the brain. Therefore, any time more than one drink is consumed per hour, every tissue in the body is exposed to alcohol’s effects as a toxin.

How can I speed up the breakdown (metabolism) of alcohol?

There is no process or method that can be undergone to cause alcohol to leave the bloodstream more quickly. However, many people believe that physical activity (such as walking around), consuming high amounts of caffeine (such as coffee), or using herbal and nutritional supplements will cause sobriety to return faster.
The key to keeping BAC below the legal limit is to consume alcohol slowly, with food, and to consume no more than one drink her hour.

How do I know if my relationship with alcohol is unhealthy?

Even if you are not classified as being an “alcoholic”, you can still have a problem known as alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is characterized by one or more of the following: binge drinking, drinking while pregnant, drinking while driving a car, or drinking to deal with emotional states.

The following questions, provided by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, may give you a clearer answer on the healthfulness of your relationship with alcohol:
-Have you ever felt that you should cut back on your alcohol intake?
-Have people ever annoyed you because of their criticizing your drinking?
-Have you ever felt a sense of guilt about your drinking?
-Do you consume alcohol when you feel angry or sad?
-Has your drinking ever made you late, or made you miss school or work?
-Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to try and “cure” a hangover?
-Do you ever drink after making a vow not to?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, there is a chance that you may have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and engage in alcohol abuse. It is important for you to speak with a trusted counselor or healthcare provider about your concerns. Taking control of your alcohol intake will allow you to regain control over your life.
For more information, visit the following websites:
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/alcohol-abuse/default.htm