Alcoholic Consumption Guidelines How Much Is Safe

By Staff Writer

The news about alcohol consumption is conflicting – some sources say moderate drinking can promote good health, while others say the risks of drinking too much overpower any potential benefits. How do you know if your drinking is “normal” or a sign of a bigger problem?

Defining Moderation

Although there is some controversy around the usefulness of federal alcohol consumption guidelines, drinking in moderation is defined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as having no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.

Drinking more than this amount can raise the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, suicide, accidents, and certain types of cancer, and just one drink per day can raise the risk of breast cancer.

What qualifies as a drink? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that one drink is equivalent to:

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

Drinking Isn’t for Everyone

Alcohol affects different people in different ways, depending on factors like age, gender, race, physical health, family history, drinking patterns, and use of other drugs.

According to the CDC, some people should avoid drinking altogether, including: 

• Children and adolescents. Research shows that children and teens’ growing bodies don’t recover easily from alcohol use. Adolescents need only drink half as much as adults to suffer the same negative effects on their emotional and physical health. When young people are under the influence, they are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, drive drunk, and suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, and poor academic performance. Research also suggests that the younger a person starts drinking, the greater the odds she will become an alcoholic later in life.

• Individuals who can’t drink moderately or who are recovering from alcoholism. If you know you have a problem with alcohol (or a family history of alcoholism), even one drink can have negative consequences for your relationships and your personal well-being. For recovering alcoholics, it takes only one drink to relapse into old patterns.

• Women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant. There is no safe level of alcohol consumption for women who are pregnant. Because women don’t always discover that they are pregnant until a few weeks into the pregnancy, it is wise for women who may become pregnant to avoid drinking alcohol as well. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of serious birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome.

• Individuals who plan to drive or operate machinery. For most people, it doesn’t take much to exceed the legally mandated blood alcohol content, and most people retain some alcohol in the blood up to 2-3 hours after taking a drink. Drunk driving takes a huge toll on individuals and society. If you will be driving or engaging any activity that requires skill or coordination, don’t drink.

• Individuals taking medications that can interact with alcohol. Many prescription and over-the-counter drugs can interact with alcohol, potentially resulting in seizures, breathing difficulties, and even death. Similarly, people with certain types of health conditions should avoid alcohol.

Older adults become more sensitive to the effects of alcohol as they age and should limit their alcohol consumption. Studies also suggest that people with a high tolerance to alcohol or a family history of alcoholism should beware of how much they drink. The more an individual needs to drink to feel intoxicated, the greater his chance of becoming an alcoholic, according to research published in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Even though studies suggest moderate drinking may have some health benefits, these benefits can usually be gained in less risky ways, such as through a healthy diet and physical activity. Too much alcohol at any age is never healthy. Heavy drinkers (men who consume more than two drinks per day and women who consume more than one drink per day) are more likely to have cirrhosis of the liver, impaired brain function, increased risk of cancer and stroke, and increased risk of car accidents and other injuries.

If You Think You Have a Problem

The line between moderate drinking and a drinking problem can be hard to pinpoint, especially for someone who drinks regularly. If drinking is negatively affecting your relationships, your performance at school or at work, or your usual social activities, talk to a health care provider or call Sunrise Recovery for more information.