Adults may enjoy drinking alcohol socially--perhaps with dinner or during a night out. If adults drink sensibly, they will do minimal damage to their health. Children and adolescents may also drink alcohol to "fit in" with their friends, to gain popularity, to appear mature, to feel happy, to relax, or simply because they may be curious, notes TeensHealth. Alcohol is intoxicating, and excessive alcohol consumption may cause your body serious harm.
Alcohol Effects
Alcohol absorbs quickly into your bloodstream. It slows down your central nervous system, which controls your bodily functions. Small amounts of alcohol induce feelings of relaxation. Larger amounts affect your hearing, vision, emotions and perceptions of things around you. Excessive alcohol produces aggression, loss of coordination, delayed reactions, confusion, slurred speech and walking difficulties, warns TeensHealth. The more alcohol you drink, the greater its effect on you.
Drinking Sensibly
Drinking alcohol in moderation is unlikely to be harmful to adults. Men and women should drink no more than two drinks per day and no more than one drink per day, respectively. One standard drink contains 0.6 oz. of pure alcohol. This is typically found in 5 oz. of wine, 12 oz. of beer or 1.5 oz. of spirits, such as whiskey, vodka or rum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Binge Drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption, or binge drinking, is generally defined as men drinking at least five drinks and women drinking at least four drinks, within a two-hour period. This level of drinking is likely to raise your blood alcohol concentration to at least 0.08 percent, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All states in America regard an alcohol blood level of 0.08 percent as intoxication, or being drunk, notes FamilyDoctor.org.
Health Hazards
Teenagers who binge drink regularly are more likely to be overweight than those who don't, according to TeensHealth. Drinking heavily also increases your risk of liver cirrhosis; pancreatitis; stomach ulcers; stroke; cancers of the liver, mouth and throat; high blood pressure; and psychological problems. If you consume large amounts of alcohol very quickly, you may get alcohol poisoning, which can cause low blood sugar, vomiting, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, coma or even death. Drunkenness also increases your risk of having a serious accident, warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Avoiding Alcohol
Children and adolescents should not drink alcohol. It is illegal to drink below the age of 21 in the United States. Alcohol slows your reaction time, so do not drink before driving a car or operating machinery. Pregnant women must not drink alcohol, because doing so can cause serious damage to a developing fetus. It is wise to avoid alcoholic drinks if you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, as some medicines react with alcohol, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
