On average, the benefits outweigh the risks only when women have no more than one drink a day, men no more than two a day. Additionally, it is important to weigh the potential benefits of moderate drinking with the potential risks of becoming addicted, particularly if many members of your family have had significant alcohol problems. Too Much Habitually exceeding the average daily limit of one or two drinks a day is associated with a broad range of health risks. Those risks cancel out alcohol's ability to protect the heart soon after you cross the moderate line. In fact, immoderate drinking can actually harm the heart, not only by raising blood pressure, but also by weakening the heart muscle and triggering abnormal heart rhythms.
Alcohol intoxication is the leading cause of traffic fatalities in the United States.
Both men and women commonly report that they take greater sexual risks when they have been drinking, leading, in a worst case, to HIV infection. How to Quit or Cut Down Some people with alcohol problems who are not physically addicted are able to quit or cut down without help. When you drink, sip slowly and take a break of one hour between drinks Eat food when you drink Pick a day or two each week when you will not drink at all and think about how you feel physically and emotionally on these days-when you succeed and feel better you may decide to quit for good Very often, people are not able to quit cold turkey on their own. If you are struggling with homophobia or spending time educating those around you, you will not be able to focus on your recovery. Many people do not cut down or give up drinking all at once the first time they try.