Alcohol:
Frequently Asked Questions

What’s an okay amount to drink?

If you’re under 21, drinking alcohol is against the law. For those over 21, moderate drinking is generally considered okay for most. That means no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman, two drinks if you’re a man. However, for some people, no amount of drinking is okay:

• Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant
• People who plan to drive or engage in other
  activities that require alertness and skill (such
  as using high-speed machinery)
• People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications
• People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking
• Recovering alcoholics
• People younger than age 21

What’s considered “a drink”?

A standard drink is equal to 13.7 grams of pure alcohol or

• 12-ounces of beer or wine cooler
• 8-ounces of malt liquor
• 5-ounces of wine
• 1.5-ounces or a “shot” of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey, etc.)

Does alcohol affect women differently?

Yes. If a man and woman of the same weight drink the same amount, the woman will have a higher blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and it will stay in her system longer. This is because alcohol is water-soluble and is not readily absorbed into body fat, which women have a higher percentage of than men. Men have more liquid in their bodies to absorb the alcohol. Women also lack a liver enzyme that helps men process alcohol more efficiently. This is why the recommended daily limit for women is half of that for men.

Some research suggests that many women may be affected more by alcohol just before menstruation and that birth control pills may increase the amount of time necessary to process alcohol. In addition, chronic alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men. Alcohol dependence and related medical problems, such as brain, heart, and liver damage, progress more rapidly in women than in men.

How much can I drink before I shouldn’t drive?

It may surprise you to learn that you don't need to drink much alcohol before your ability to drive becomes impaired. For example, certain driving skills--such as steering a car while, at
the same time, responding to changes in traffic--can be impaired by blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) as low as 0.02 percent. (The BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in the blood.)

A 160-pound man will have a BAC of about 0.04 percent one hour after consuming two standard drinks on an empty stomach. And the more alcohol you consume, the more impaired your driving skills will be. Although most states set the BAC limit for adults who drive after drinking at 0.08 to 0.10 percent, impairment of driving skills begins at much lower levels.

What does getting drunk do to you?

“Getting drunk” or intoxicated is the result of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. Binge drinking (more than 3 drinks for women, 4 for men) typically results in acute intoxication.

Alcohol intoxication can be detrimental to health for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to

• Impaired brain function resulting in poor judgment, reduced reaction time, loss of balance and motor skills, and/or slurred speech.
• Dilation of blood vessels causing a feeling of warmth, but resulting in rapid loss of body heat.
• Increased risk of certain cancers, stroke, and liver diseases such as, cirrhosis particularly when excessive amounts of alcohol are consumed over extended periods of time.
• Damage to a developing fetus if consumed by pregnant women.
• Increased risk of motor-vehicle traffic crashes, violence and other injuries.

Coma and death can occur if alcohol is consumed rapidly and in large amounts due to depression of the central nervous system.

Will coffee help me sober up more quickly?

Actually, no. And combining caffeine and alcohol introduces other concerns:

• Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics (promote fluid loss), so dehydration is a possible issue and is suspected to be the cause of 3 deaths involving Red Bull and alcohol.

• Combining strong stimulants (caffeine or caffeine-like stimulants) with a heavy depressant (alcohol) could cause cardiopulmonary or cardiovascular failures.

• Both stimulants and alcohol contribute to a loss of coordination and balance.

• Both stimulants and alcohol affect the body's ability to regulate temperature.

• Stimulants may cause drinkers to feel more alert, making them perceive themselves as less impaired for driving or other dangerous activities.

• Stimulants cause drinkers to stay awake and alert longer, possible extending the length of time they will continue drinking.

Really, the only thing that can sober you up is time. Drinking lots of water will decrease the possibility of dehydration.

How do I know if I have a drinking problem?

Drinking is a problem if it causes trouble in your relationships, in school, in social activities, or in how you think and feel. Consider the following questions:

• Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

• Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?

• Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

• Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?

One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem. More than one "yes" answer means it is highly likely that a problem exists. If you are concerned that either you or someone in your family might have a drinking problem, consult with a counselor or physician to determine whether a problem exists and to plan the best course of action. See Getting Help.

How can I tell if a friend has a drinking problem?

Sometimes it's tough to tell, but there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may have a problem with alcohol:

• Getting drunk on a regular basis

• Having frequent hangovers

• Lying about how much alcohol he or she is using

• Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun

• Feeling run-down, depressed, or even suicidal

• Having "blackouts" – forgetting what he or she did while drinking

• Having problems at school or getting in trouble with the law

What can you do to help someone who has a drinking problem? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop drinking or to seek professional help. See Getting Help.

Is it safe to drink in moderation during pregnancy?

During the 1950s, pregnant women were often told to have a drink now and then to lower their blood pressure and help them relax. And in some countries, a glass of wine is considered acceptable, even for pregnant women. But the fact is, everything you eat and drink while you are pregnant affects your baby, and alcohol can cause a range of birth defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).

Children born with alcohol-related birth defects can have physical abnormalities, mental impairment, and lifelong learning and behavior problems. Because scientists don’t know exactly how much alcohol it takes to cause alcohol-related birth defects, it is best not to drink any alcohol while pregnant or trying to conceive.

Is it okay to drink while taking medication?

That depends on the medication. Alcohol interacts negatively with more than 150 medications. Alcohol's effects are heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and some painkillers. In addition, medicines for certain disorders, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, can have harmful interactions with alcohol. Even something as simple as Tylenol (in high doses) can damage your liver if mixed with alcohol. If you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can safely drink alcohol.

Mixing alcohol with medications or illicit drugs is extremely dangerous and can lead to accidental death. For example, alcohol-medication interactions may be a factor in at least 25 percent of emergency room admissions.

I’m young; is drinking bad for my health?

Aside from increased risk of accidental injuries, unintentional pregnancy, STDs, suicide and homicide – yes. When you’re young, it may feel like you bounce back from a binge with relatively little impact, but over time, excessive drinking takes a serious toll on the body. If you drink heavily or even indulge in occasional binging on a regular basis, here are some of the health problems you might have to deal with in the future:

• Liver disease. More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some long-term heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver. About 10 to 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Both of these diseases are fatal if drinking continues.

• Heart disease. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some kinds of stroke.

• Cancer. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box. Women are at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if they drink two or more drinks per day. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum.

• Pancreatitis. The pancreas helps to regulate the body's blood sugar levels by producing insulin. The pancreas also has a role in digesting the food we eat. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This condition is associated with severe abdominal pain and weight loss and can be fatal.