Alcohol has a diuretic effect. It makes you pee more. This means that consuming significant amounts puts you at risk for dehydration (26). The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommends limiting intake to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women. The recommended intake is lower for females as the female body reacts differently to alcohol compared to males. Consuming similar amounts results in a higher blood concentration in women (27).