Things to know about alcohol

• Dose
• Low intake
• Higher levels of booze
• The down side
• Problem use
• At risk

Dose

The strength of an alcoholic drink is measured either by ‘proof’ or by ABV (alcohol by volume). The proof figure is equal to double the ABV figure, so a drink that's 40% proof will be 20% ABV.

As yeast cannot grow when alcohol content reaches around 15-18% ABV, this is usually the strongest that beers and wines can be. With fortified wines and port, a higher ABV is reached by adding spirits. Distilling alcohol can achieve much higher ABV levels, as seen in spirits.

Low intake

Alcohol's a low-level toxin, which is the reason it damages babies in the womb and attacks the liver and heart in heavy drinkers. However, except for those with a risk of becoming dependant on alcohol, small amounts of alcohol are harmless or possibly good for you. Men over 40 who drink moderately (one or two drinks a day) may be less likely to suffer heart attacks or heart disease than men who never drink or who drink heavily.

Higher levels of booze

Larger doses of alcohol can be harmful, as being drunk is linked to violence, accidents or unsafe sex. The effects are stronger on an empty stomach.

Larger amounts can also cause dehydration - the main cause/symptom of hangovers - and blackouts, where you can't remember what happened. Drinking water between and/or after alcohol is the best way to minimise hangovers.

Overdose can cause coma or death in the form of alcohol poisoning or choking on vomit.

Large doses over a long time can cause illness and death from:

• cirrhosis (scarring of the liver, making the liver work less well)
• cancer (alcohol increases the cancer-causing properties of other substances such as tobacco. Cancer of the liver, mouth and throat are more common in heavy drinkers and even higher in drinkers who smoke)
• brain damage

The down side

As it's a depressant, alcohol slows the brain and body, causing:

• slurred speech
• blurred vision
• lack of co-ordination
• slow reflexes
• feeling ‘down’
• impaired judgement
• sleepiness
• passing out.

Problem use

Binge drinking (regularly drinking to get drunk) among younger drinkers can lead to health problems normally seen with older heavy drinkers.

Addiction to alcohol can be physical, with withdrawal symptoms including ‘the shakes’, trouble sleeping or restlessness. Or addiction can be psychological, creating an intense urge to drink.

Abuse of alcohol and being dependent on it are major causes of crime and disorder, and cost more than all other drug use put together with the exception of tobacco. Each year excess drinking kills over 20,000* people in Britain, a figure that's rising.

At risk

Extra caution when drinking alcohol is advised for people who are:

• suffering from sleep disturbances or mental health problems, for example anxiety and depression, as alcohol is a depressant so makes these worse
• taking certain medications (check with your doctor)
• dependent on other drugs
• infected with hepatitis C virus or have other liver conditions
• men who weigh under 60kg (that's nine and a half stone or 133 pounds).

Find out more about problems with alcohol here

*Alcohol Concern estimates 22,000 deaths are attributable to drink each year in Britain