What Does Alcohol Do to Your Body? Discover the Facts

The Journey of Alcohol Through The Body  

When you drink alcohol, it is rapidly absorbed from your gastrointestinal tract into your bloodstream and then distributed to organs such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain. While the initial feeling of intoxication is immediate, the full effects of alcohol may not be felt immediately. However, alcohol impacts your cardiovascular system, digestive system, and immune system with the very first drink. 

The liver is the main organ responsible for breaking down alcohol into compounds that can be removed from the body. On average, it takes the liver one hour to break down one drink. Heavy drinking can overwhelm the liver as the liver cannot detoxify quickly enough to accommodate the excessive alcohol in the blood. 

Besides your overall health and current medications, your body's ability to process alcohol is also affected by specific factors such as age, gender, weight, presence of food, metabolism, alcohol type, and strength.

Immediate Effects of Drinking Alcohol

While it is true that health risks increase with alcohol use, it is important to remember that alcohol's effects on your body start with the first sip. An alcohol buzz produces a relaxing, euphoric feeling due to its impact on the central nervous system (CNS), which leads to impaired decision-making, behavior, and coordination, among others. Immediate effects of alcohol that appear quickly after you start drinking may include: 

• Motor impairment, leading to problems with balance, coordination, and slurred speech

• Reduced inhibitions leading to poor impulse control

• Memory problems, confusion

• Concentration problems

• Difficulties with reasoning and decision-making

Because alcohol affects your ability to think and react, it can increase the risks of the following:

• Motor vehicle accidents, falls, burns, and drownings

• Impulsive behavior, aggression 

• Alcohol poisoning 

• Unintentional overdose with other CNS depressants

• Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder from alcohol use during pregnancy 

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol On The Body  

After you drink, your liver gets to work breaking down the alcohol. This brings your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) down. However, the effects of alcohol on your body don’t immediately go away. Some of the short-term effects of alcohol are described below.

Alcohol Intoxication: Impact on Coordination and Perception  

Consuming excessive alcohol can lead to alcohol intoxication. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Lack of inhibition

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Slurred speech

• Unsteady gait or clumsiness

• Drowsiness

• Nausea and vomiting

• Headache

• Distorted perception (losing touch with reality)

• Memory lapses

• Loss of consciousness (blackout)

Blood Alcohol Level and Alcohol Poisoning

The immediate and short-term effects of alcohol are due to a high blood alcohol concentration (BAC), which measures the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. The higher your BAC, the greater the likelihood of impairments. 

• BAC 0.0%: Sober.

• BAC 0.02%: Relaxed mood, slight loss of judgment.

• BAC 0.05%: Lack of inhibition, reduced alertness, impaired judgment. 

• BAC 0.08%: Decreased balance and coordination, impaired decision-making.

• BAC 0.10%: Reduced reaction time, slowed thinking, slurred speech.

• BAC 0.15%: Nausea, vomiting, loss of muscle control, poor balance.

• BAC 0.15% to 0.30%: Drowsiness, confusion, vomiting. 

• BAC 0.30% to 0.40%: Alcohol poisoning. 

• BAC Over 0.40%: Potentially fatal blood alcohol level.

Binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption can result in more alcohol in your body than your liver can process. This can lead to alcohol poisoning, one of the most dangerous short-term alcohol-related harms. It is a life-threatening condition and can lead to breathing difficulties, coma, and death.

Hangover

Excessive drinking can lead to lingering effects of alcohol on the body the next day. This is commonly called a hangover. It occurs because when people drink alcohol, their body takes time to get rid of all the alcohol. Hangover symptoms occur mainly due to dehydration and the presence of certain chemicals in the blood that are breakdown products from alcohol metabolism. Alcohol’s effects the day after you drink heavily may include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Diarrhea

• Dry mouth

• Dry eyes

• Sensitivity to lights and sounds

• Racing heart

• Problems concentrating

• Restlessness

Long-Term Effects and Health Risks: What Exactly Does Alcohol Do To Your Body?  

Alcoholic liver disease and alcohol dependence are the most well-known long-term effects of excessive alcohol use. However, alcohol can affect practically every organ in the body. Excessive drinking has been linked to more than 200 health conditions. Some of the long-term health risks of alcohol consumption are described below.

Liver Damage 

The liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from the body. When you consume alcohol in excessive amounts, it leads to a buildup of fat in liver cells. This is called steatotic liver disease. Over time, continued alcohol consumption can lead to liver fibrosis (scarring) and cirrhosis (irreversible scarring). Liver cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and increase your risk of liver cancer. Almost half of all deaths due to liver disease in the US are related to alcohol.

Metabolism and Weight Gain

Drinking alcohol can lead to weight gain. A “beer belly” refers to fat around the midsection. There is no scientific proof that drinking beer (or your choice of alcoholic beverage) adds to belly fat. However, drinking alcohol does cause the body to prioritize processing alcohol, thus preventing it from metabolizing carbohydrates and fats. Also, many alcoholic drinks, such as sweet cocktails, are calorie-rich and can contribute to weight gain.

Digestive Health

Long-term alcohol use can throw the gut microbiome (ratio of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria) out of balance. This can lead to inflammation and problems with digestion as well as affect other body functions. Adverse effects of drinking too much alcohol on the gastrointestinal tract and gut health include:

• Relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, causing acid reflux or heartburn.

• Damage to the lining of the stomach, causing gastritis (inflammation) and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Mixing alcohol with certain drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (for example, ibuprofen or naproxen) can increase the risk of gastritis and bleeding.

• Alcohol increases the risk of pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Cardiovascular Health

Drinking heavily can have a negative effect on the heart and blood vessels. Alcohol use has been linked to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms), and cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle). Chronic heavy drinking is linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Some studies have shown that moderate drinking (such as one glass of red wine a day) may benefit heart health. However, experts advise that no amount of alcohol is safe to drink because of the many long-term health risks.

Cancer Risk

Alcohol use has been linked to an increased site-specific cancer risk of mouth cancer, throat cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer. Data suggests that approximately 3.5% of cancer deaths (about 20,000 deaths) are alcohol-related. This alcohol-related cancer risk is believed to be due to a metabolite (breakdown product) of alcohol called acetaldehyde. 

Immune Function

Drinking alcohol can lead to lower levels of lymphocytes (white blood cells) and a weaker immune system. This can slow the healing of wounds and make you more likely to catch common infections such as the common cold and flu, as well as more serious infectious diseases.

Hormonal Disturbances

Alcohol use can lead to endocrine dysfunction, including thyroid disorders, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), and reproductive problems. In people with diabetes, alcohol intake can make it harder to control blood glucose levels and worsen diabetes-related complications.

Musculoskeletal System

Long-term use of alcohol or heavy drinking can lead to muscle damage, weakness, and wasting. Heavy alcohol use is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and gout (a type of arthritis).

Risks of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

Consumption of alcohol by a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, intellectual disabilities in the baby, and an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments caused by prenatal alcohol exposure are collectively called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). No amount of alcohol is safe at any time during pregnancy, but binge drinking is particularly dangerous. 

Learn more: Is Alcohol Safe During Breastfeeding? Expert Advice and Guidelines

Effects of Alcohol on Mental Health and Brain Function  

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain and Cognition

Drinking alcohol produces rapid but temporary effects on the brain and central nervous system, such as decreased inhibition and poor concentration. However, alcohol also causes long-term damage to the brain and nervous system. Heavy alcohol use and alcohol use disorder can:

• Affect the development of an adolescent’s brain, leading to irreversible changes in brain structure and function.

• Cause alcohol-induced blackouts (lapses in memory) and problems with memory consolidation (transfer from short-term to long-term memory).

• Damage of gray and white matter in the brain, causing cognitive deficits. 

• Cause problems with attention, memory, and reasoning.

• Damage to peripheral nerves, resulting in burning and tingling. 

• Lead to substance abuse (also called alcohol misuse, alcohol addiction, alcohol dependence, alcohol abuse, or alcohol use disorder). This is an inability to quit drinking despite negative consequences.

• Severe alcohol use disorder can result in vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency and a complication called Wernicke’s encephalopathy. This is a medical emergency. Symptoms include confusion, low blood pressure, vision problems, gait and coordination difficulties, and coma.

Effects of Alcohol on Emotional Health

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant (it lowers brain activity). Drinking alcohol can negatively impact mental health in many ways:

• Drinking every day can affect a person’s mood over time. 

• People with preexisting mental health conditions are at risk of developing alcohol addiction if they attempt to use alcohol as a way to feel better. 

• Alcohol can also cause worsening of mental health conditions and increase the risk of self-harm and suicide.

• Alcohol can interfere with medications used to treat mental illness.

• Heavy alcohol use can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their relationships, friendships, work, and sex life, which in turn can affect their mental health.

Impact on Sleep Patterns and Quality  

Some people find that alcohol makes them fall asleep more easily. However, in the long-term alcohol has a negative impact on sleep duration and quality. Consuming alcohol within 2-3 hours of bedtime can lead to low-quality sleep and frequent awakenings. Long-term or heavy alcohol use can lead to sleep disorders such as chronic insomnia and sleep apnea.

Alcohol Use and Safe Consumption  

What Constitutes Moderate Alcohol Use?  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate alcohol use is one or fewer drinks per day for women and two or fewer drinks per day for men. 

One standard drink contains 14 grams of pure alcohol. Examples of standard drinks include:

• 12 ounces (354 milliliters or mL) of beer (5% alcohol)

• 5 ounces (148 mL) of wine (12% alcohol)

• 1.5 ounces (44 mL) of distilled spirits (40% alcohol)

How Much Alcohol is Called Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings the blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or more (this is usually 4 or more drinks within 2 hours for women and 5 or more drinks within 2 hours for men).

Recognizing Signs of Alcohol Use Disorder  

Alcohol use disorder is a pattern of unhealthy drinking habits and trouble controlling drinking. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Inability to limit alcohol intake. 

• Trying to cut down on drinking unsuccessfully. 

• Spending a lot of time obtaining alcohol, drinking, and recovering from the effects of alcohol.

• Experiencing strong cravings for alcohol. 

• Falling behind on school assignments or work responsibilities.

• Continuing to drink despite negative consequences.

• Forgoing social engagements and hobbies in order to drink.

• Driving under the influence or using alcohol in unsafe situations.

• Needing more alcohol over time to get the same effects (this is called tolerance). 

• Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as sweating and nausea when access to alcohol is withheld. 

Tips For Responsible Drinking  

• Don’t consume alcohol if you are below the legal age to drink.

• Consume alcohol in moderation by limiting yourself to a predetermined number of drinks. This is ideally less than one drink per day and 7 drinks per week for women and less than two drinks per day and 14 drinks per week for men. 

• Don’t drink if you are pregnant.

• Never drink and drive.

• Don’t drink on an empty stomach.

• Alternate between alcoholic beverages and water (drink water after each alcoholic drink).

Finding Support and Treatment Options

If you or a loved one has an alcohol problem (alcohol addiction or alcohol abuse), talk to your primary care provider about treatment options to stop drinking. They can assess your drinking patterns and refer you to a mental health provider or alcohol counselor. Effective behavioral therapies and medications are available to help you quit drinking. 

Learn about how acamprosate can reduce alcohol cravings.

Frequently Asked Questions on Alcohol and Health

What Are The Benefits of Alcohol In The Body?

Research indicates that alcohol does not have any scientifically proven health benefits. Any amount of alcohol carries health risks, and the risk of negative health effects increases the more alcohol you drink.

What Organ Does Alcohol Affect The Most?

Alcohol affects the liver the most because it is the organ that metabolizes (breaks down) alcohol and eliminates it from the body. However, alcohol impacts practically every organ in the body and causes widespread harm.

How Does Your Body Feel When You Drink Too Much?

Alcohol can cause immediate, short-term, and long-term effects on your body, ranging from slurred speech and impaired judgment immediately after consumption to intoxication and hangover as the short-term effects of alcohol, and serious health concerns, including heart disease and cancer as the long-term effects of alcohol.