by Jackson Nickel
Alcohol is the most common substance used among people 12 and older in the United States. Drinking alcohol in any amount carries a health risk. Research shows that excessive alcohol use— drinking patterns that negatively impact your health—is a leading preventable cause of death with over 178,000 deaths each year in the US.
Drinking alcohol also raises your risk of getting seven different kinds of cancer, like breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Despite some false claims of health benefits, studies show that all alcoholic drinks, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, are linked with cancer. Alcohol is also linked to Liver disease and Cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and stroke. During pregnancy, drinking alcohol may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems like alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
The health effects of alcohol on adolescents and young adults are more significant, as the brain isn’t fully developed until the mid-20s
.
For adults, guidelines from health organizations suggest that moderate drinking is typically defined as one standard drink per day for women and two standard drinks per day for men.
Standard drinks are defined as
12 ounces of beer
5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of distilled spirits
Other alcohol harm reduction strategies include not exceeding the weekly recommended amount of alcohol, not drinking before 5 pm, not drinking alone, avoiding drinking and driving, and not drinking every day.
Alcohol is also addictive. Alcohol use disorder is the most common addiction in the US.
3 out of 4 of the roughly 48 million people with a diagnosable addiction nationwide have an alcohol use disorder. There are 11 criteria used to diagnose an alcohol use disorder including needing more alcohol to feel the same effect, building tolerance,
Disruptions in work, school, family or other activities because of alcohol, physical injuries, and continued use of alcohol despite known consequences.
Sources:
Alcohol's Effects on Health. (2024, June). National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Retrieved July 9, 2024
Alcohol Use and Cancer. (2024). American Cancer Society. Retrieved July 7, 2024.