Very large doses can cause death by blocking brain's control over respiration. Chronic heavy use of alcohol results in disruptions of drinker's social, family, and working life. Pregnant women who drink excessively may have babies with abnormalities such as mental deficiency, physical deformities, cardiac defects. Chronic users may drink steadily without appearing to get drunk. Their condition may go unrecognized, even by themselves, for some time.
Chronic drinkers are likely to become physically and psychologically dependent.
Withdrawal symptoms range from jumpiness, sleeplessness, sweating, poor appetite to tremors, convulsions, hallucinations, even death. In some jurisdictions, parent or guardian may legally supply liquor at home to an underage person, but others supplying or selling liquor to a minor are committing an offence.