What is Moderate Alcohol Use?

Moderate drinking has been defined as:

  • up to two drinks per day for men
  • one drink per day for women and older adults1
  • low risk - less likely for illness and injury
Moderate alcohol use causes few if any problems for most adults. For more information, read this article: pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh23-1/05-14.pdf

How Much is Too Much?

  Drinks Per Week Drinks Per Occasion
Men More Than 14 More Than 4
Women More Than 7 More Than 3
Anyone Age 65+ More Than 7 More Than 3

What is "One Drink?"

Below are some equivalent examples of a standard drink:

  • One 12 ounce bottle or can of beer or wine cooler
  • 8-9 ounce malt liquor
  • One 5 ounce glass of wine
  • 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits
     

Who Should Not Drink:2

  • Women who are pregnant or 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 3
  • People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking
  • Recovering alcoholics
  • People younger than age 21

Alcohol and College Students

  • 500,000 students between the ages of 18-24 are unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol
  • 1,400 die each year due to alcohol-related injuries
  • 600,000 students are assaulted by another student that has been drinking
  • 22.8% of young adults reported driving under the influence 4
  • Over 44% of full time college students reported consuming five or more drinks on the same occasion at least once in the past 30 days

Alcohol and Injury

Alcohol is a factor in:

  • 60-70% of homicides
  • 40% of suicides
  • 40-50% of fatal motor vehicle crashes
  • 60% of fatal burn injuries
  • 60% of drownings
  • 40% of fatal falls 5-9
Nearly 50% of severely injured trauma patients are injured while under the influence of alcohol.10

Alcohol and Disease

Alcohol is a risk factor in a variety of diseases including 4

  • hypertension
  • stroke
  • diabetes
  • liver and other gastrointestinal diseases
  • increased risk for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, and larynx
  • increased risk for cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, liver, female breast, and ovaries

For more information on how alcohol increases risk of cancer, see:
pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-4/263-270.htm

Do I Have a Problem?

Although no one can really answer that question for you, there are lots of indicators that you might not be aware of. Take the short survey on alcoholscreening.com and know whether your alcohol consumption is putting you at long-term risk.

www.alcoholscreening.com

Abuse vs. Alcoholism

Alcohol abuse differs from alcoholism in that it does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period:

  • Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities;
  • Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as driving a car or operating machinery;
  • Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk;
  • Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking;

Although alcohol abuse is basically different from alcoholism, many effects of alcohol abuse are also experienced by alcoholics.

Alcoholism, also known as “alcohol dependence,” is a disease that includes four symptoms:

  • Craving: A strong need, or compulsion, to drink.
  • Loss of control: The inability to limit one’s drinking on any given occasion.
  • Physical dependence: Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, occur when alcohol use is stopped after a period of heavy drinking.
  • Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts of alcohol in order to “get high.”

How Much Do People Drink?

    5% Dependent Drinkers
  20% At-risk drinkers or problem drinkers
  35% Drink a moderate amount and are at low risk for alcohol problems
    40% Do Not Drink

References

  1. Alcohol Alert National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No. 16 PH 315 April 1992 pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa16.htm
  2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. FAQs. What is a safe level of drinking? March 2003 www.niaaa.nih.gov/FAQs/General-English/FAQs13.htm
  3. Alcohol Alert National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism No. 27 PH 355 Jan 1995 pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa27.htm
  4. Lieber CS. Medical disorders of alcoholism. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1058-1065
  5. Lowenstein SR, Weissberg M, Terry D. Alcohol intoxication, injuries, and dangerous behaviors-and the revolving emergency department door. J Trauma. 1990;30:1252-1257.
  6. Cherpitel CJ. Alcohol and violence-related injuries: an emergency room study. Addiction. 1993;88:79-88.
  7. Cherpitel CJ. Alcohol and injuries: a review of international emergency room studies. Addiction. 1993;88:651-665.
  8. Howland J, Hingson R. Alcohol as a risk factor for injuries of death due to fires and burns; review of the literature. Public Health Rep. 1987;102:475-483.
  9. Hingston R, Howland J. Alcohol as a risk factor for injury or death resulting from accidental falls: a review of the literature. J Stud Alcohol. 1987;48:212-219.
  10. Dunn CW, Donovan DM, Gentilello L. Practical guidelines for performing alcohol interventions in trauma center. J Trauma. 1997;42:299-304.

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