Harms of Excessive Drinking

Risky drinking, or binge drinking refers to the consumption of alcohol, on any single occasion, at a level that is hazardous to one’s health in the short-term. It also refers to drinking alcohol to excess on a regular basis or repeatedly - this is more likely to have an impact on one’s long-term health.

The following guidelines were developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council and indicate the levels of harm associated with the consumption of alcohol. It should be noted that there could be harms associated with consuming alcohol even at levels lower than those suggested.

Alcohol intake guidelines

The following guidelines can help you determine if your alcohol intake is harmful.

• Adult men and women – For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of alcohol-related disease or injury. Drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion. Everyone should have one or two days free of alcohol a week.
• Children and young people – the safest choice for young people under 18 years of age is not to drink at all. Young people under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and are advised not to drink alcohol. If older teenagers (over 15 years) do drink, it should be under adult supervision and within the adult guideline for low-risk drinking (two standard drinks in any one day).
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women – the safest choice is not to drink alcohol while pregnant or breastfeeding or if you are planning to become pregnant.

The risk of injury and disease increases the more you drink. Any drinking above recommended levels carries a higher risk than not drinking. Mixing alcohol and other drugs – either illegal drugs or some prescription drugs – can cause serious health problems.

For more information on the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol, visit:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/your_health/healthy/alcohol/index.htm

Effects of Alcohol
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcohol#effects

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