Drinking alcohol every day can have serious consequences for a person’s mental and physical health, both in the short- and long-term. Alcohol has complex effects in the body and can affect multiple organs and systems like the heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, vasculature system, and liver. There are different short- and long-term consequences for each of these systems. Many of the effects of drinking every day can be reversed through early intervention but become harder to treat with time. It’s critical to recognize alcohol abuse and treat alcoholism as early as possible to avoid irreversible damage to the brain and body. In short: Alcohol can affect the G.I. tract, heart, kidneys, liver and vascular system in the short term. Chronic alcohol abuse can include arrhythmias, cirrhosis and risk of stroke. Alcohol abuse can contribute to or worsen mental health conditions over time. Chronic drinking can lead to diseases like cardiovascular disease and cancers.