Alcoholic liver disease is damage to the liver caused by excessive drinking. Your liver has enzymes that break down alcohol into useful metabolites, but it can only handle so much.
Too much alcohol leads to high levels of toxins in the liver. Your liver may respond by creating scar tissue in an attempt to repair itself. An excess of scar tissue (cirrhosis) makes it impossible for the liver to function properly.
Alcoholic liver disease can also result in infection, inflammation, cancer, and liver failure. The condition may be life-threatening, and the risk of fatality is higher if you keep drinking.