Binge drinking and your body
SPEAKING OF HEALTH
FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023
Drinking alcohol is common in the U.S. About 84% of adults report drinking alcohol at some point in their lives, with 51% reporting drinking in the last month. Some people drink to feel sociable, celebrate a special occasion or to complement a meal. Others drink alcohol to escape from or avoid problems.
Moderate alcohol use for healthy adults generally means up to one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men. Examples of one drink include:
- 12 fluid ounces of beer
- 5 fluid ounces of wine
- 1.5 fluid ounces of distilled spirits (80 proof)
Moderate alcohol use may have some benefits, but heavy or binge drinking has no health benefits. It’s defined as three drinks in a day or more than seven drinks a week for women and for men older than 65, and more than four drinks in a day or more than 14 drinks a week for men 65 and younger.
Here are answers to questions about the effects of heavy drinking on the body:
