Like most people, you've reported that you drink alcohol moderately or not at all. Research suggests
that moderate alcohol intake may have health benefits, but drinking alcohol in excess certainly does not.
Moderate drinking is defined as one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. A standard
drink is equal to 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol or:
12 ounces of beer
8 ounces of malt liquor
5 ounces of wine
1.5 ounces of a “shot” of 80-proof distilled spirits or liquor (e.g. gin, rum, vodka or whiskey)
Risky Drinking
Binge drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings your blood alcohol level to 0.08 percent
or higher. In men, this usually equates to five or more drinks in one occasion, or four or more drinks
in one setting for women.
Both heavy drinking and binge drinking can lead to serious mental and physical health problems including
cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), various cancers and
high blood pressure. In addition, unintentional injuries may occur such as death from drowning, motor
vehicle accidents, violence, harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant and dependence.
Heavy drinking also contributes to decreased job performance and increased medical costs.
Drinking and Driving
It is never safe to drink and drive. Drinking alcohol slows reaction time and impairs judgment and
coordination, which are skills needed to safely operate a vehicle. The more alcohol consumed, the
greater the impairment. All states in the United States have adopted 0.08% as the legal limit for
operating a motor vehicle for drivers age 21 and older. Drivers under age 21 are not allowed to operate
a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system. It is important to remember that impairment
from alcohol consumption begins at any level below the legal limit. In order to avoid injury to
yourself or others, have a transportation plan in place before you begin drinking.
Safe alcohol use
To avoid injury to yourself or others when consuming alcohol, it is important to practice safe
drinking habits such as:
At the beginning of a function that will involve alcohol, set a limit to the amount of drinks you will consume and stick to it. In addition, have a plan of how you will travel after consuming alcohol. Consider abstaining for the night and volunteer to be the designated driver. Have the phone numbers of local taxi services with you in case you are unable to drive.
Avoid drinking games, count your drinks throughout an event, pace yourself to one drink per hour, alternate an alcoholic beverage with a glass of water or drink a look-alike drink.
If you or a loved one ever needs help with too much drinking, consult your healthcare provider. Great Rivers 2-1-1 also provides free, confidential community information, referrals and crisis line services 24 hours a day. Simply dial 2-1-1 or (800) 362-8255.
Additional resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov
