drinking and your health

overview

drinking too much alcohol on a regular basis harms your liver, nervous system, heart, and brain. it can cause health problems or make them worse. these problems include:

• cirrhosis or pancreatitis.
• high blood pressure.
• osteoporosis.
• certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.
• stroke.
• a brain disorder called wernicke-korsakoff syndrome.

heavy alcohol use also can cause stomach problems, interactions between medicines and alcohol, and sexual problems. it can lead to violence, injuries, social isolation, and problems at work, school, or home. you also may have legal problems, such as traffic tickets or car crashes, as a result of drinking.

drinking alcohol can cause unique problems for older adults and people who are pregnant or who have other health conditions. if you are pregnant, you should not drink any alcohol because it can harm your baby.

drinking also makes symptoms of mental health conditions worse. when you have a drinking problem and a mental health condition, it's called a dual diagnosis. it's very important to treat all mental health conditions, such as depression. you may drink less when mental health conditions are treated.

how much alcohol is safe to drink?

experts don't know if alcohol is safe in any amount. if you choose to drink alcohol, the key is to keep your drinking at low to moderate levels.

people who drink too much are hurting their health. heavy drinking can cause all kinds of problems, from stomach and sexual problems to stroke and liver disease. it can also lead to problems at work, school, or home and to drunk driving and violence.

it may be hard to know if you are drinking too much. because of things like age, sex, weight, and health history, alcohol affects people differently. canadian health experts say:

• if you drink, try to drink less. a standard drink is a 341 ml (12 fl oz) can of 5% beer, hard cider or hard seltzer, a 142 ml (5 fl oz) glass of 12% wine, or a mixed drink with 43 ml (1.5 fl oz) of 40% liquor.
• canadian health experts say that your risk of harm from alcohol is:^{footnote 1}
  • low if you have 2 standard drinks or less per week.
  • moderate if you have between 3 and 6 drinks per week.
  • high if you have 7 or more drinks per week.

having more than 2 drinks in one sitting increases your risk of harm to yourself and others.

drinking has a greater effect on women because they typically weigh less. but this isn't the only reason. women's bodies have less water than men's bodies. alcohol mixes with body water. so alcohol is more concentrated and more "powerful" in women than in men. think of putting a drop of red food colouring in both a small and a large cup of water. the water in the smaller cup will be much redder.

it's important to remember that the only way to guarantee that drinking alcohol will not harm you at all is to not drink at all.

when is drinking alcohol unhealthy or unsafe?

there are certain times when drinking any amount of alcohol is unhealthy. you shouldn't drink if:

• you need to drive a car or operate other machinery.
• you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. drinking during pregnancy makes a miscarriage or fetal alcohol syndrome more likely. a child who was exposed to alcohol in the womb may have physical and emotional problems. these problems can range from mild difficulties to severe birth defects.
• you breastfeed your child. if you choose to drink, breastfeed just before you drink alcohol. and wait to breastfeed at least 2 hours after you have a drink to reduce the amount of alcohol the baby may get in the milk.
• you take certain medicines. ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol with any of the medicines you take. common medicines that interact with alcohol include:
  • acetaminophen (such as tylenol).
  • antibiotics.
  • antihistamines.
  • aspirin and other medicines to prevent clotting of blood (anticoagulants).
  • tranquilizers.
  • some medicines to treat depression (antidepressants) or other mental disorders.
  • any medicine that can make you drowsy. (check the label.)
• you have certain health problems. ask your doctor if you can safely drink alcohol if you have any of the following problems:
  • liver, stomach, and intestine problems.
  • heart failure and high blood pressure.
  • certain blood disorders.
  • mental health problems.
• you have problems controlling how much you drink, or you had alcohol problems in the past.
• you're at work.
• you plan to play sports or take part in physical activities.
• you're taking care of someone or supervising others.
• you need to make important decisions.

what can you do to lower your or someone else's risk of harm from drinking?

if you choose to drink, here are some things you can do to reduce your risk of getting sick or injured:

• have a meal or a snack with your drink. don't drink on an empty stomach.
• drink slowly. don't have more than 2 standard drinks in one sitting.
• have a glass of water or non-alcoholic, caffeine-free beverage (such as a soft drink or fruit juice) between drinks.
• avoid risky situations and activities. don't drink and drive, and don't get in a car with a driver who has been drinking.
• don't take over-the-counter or prescription medicines that interact with alcohol, such as acetaminophen (tylenol), antibiotics, and antihistamines.
• limit how much you drink.

if you know someone who drinks too much or puts themself in situations where risky drinking is going to occur (such as at a bar or party), here are some things you can do to help reduce that person's risk of harm. you can:

• take the person's car keys so they won't drink and drive.
• remove sharp objects and glassware from dance and party locations so the person won't hurt themself or others.
• provide water so the person doesn't get dehydrated.