Alcohol

“If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start because of potential health benefits. However, if you drink a light to moderate amount and you’re healthy, you can probably…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Alcohol Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Alcohol
  • Booze
  • Drug
  • Grog
  • Liquor

Definition

What is alcohol?

DotS the definition of alcohol may vary. The (United States) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) definition is:

“Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars, and starches”.2

Good or Not

Is alcohol good for you?

In Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefit – Deciding About Drinking the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

“If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start because of potential health benefits. However, if you drink a light to moderate amount and you’re healthy, you can probably continue as long as you drink responsibly. Be sure to check with your doctor about what’s right for your health and safety”.3

Women and Alcohol

If women choose to drink alcohol, what does moderate drinking mean?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) this may vary. For the United States in Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions – Drinking Patterns: What Does Moderate Drinking Mean? the CDC explain:

“According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men and 1 drink or less in a day for women, when alcohol is consumed”.4

For the United Kingdom in UK Alcohol Unit Guidance: CMOs’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines – Low Risk Drinking Guidelines Drinkaware.co.uk elaborate on:

“The Chief Medical Officers’ (CMO) guideline for both men and women states that:

  • To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
  • If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it’s best to spread your drinking evenly over three or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risk of long-term illness and injury”.5

The (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

“The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guideline for reducing health risks associated with drinking alcohol defines ‘low risk’ alcohol consumption for healthy women as no more than two standard drinks on any day with regular alcohol free days”.6

Standard Drink

What is a standard drink?

DotS and/or DotC the definition of a standard drink may vary. In the United States according to the (United States) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism:

“In the United States, one “standard” drink (or one alcoholic drink equivalent) contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

  • 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol
  • 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol
  • 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol”.7

Unit of Alcohol

What is a unit of alcohol?

DotS and/or DotC this may vary. In What Is An Alcohol Unit? What Is An Alcohol Unit? the UK according to Drinkaware.co.uk:

“One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol. Because alcoholic drinks come in different strengths and sizes, units are a way to tell how strong your drink is”.8

High Risk Drinking

What is high risk drinking?

DotS the definition of high risk drinking may vary. In Alcohol: Alcohol & Your Health – High Risk Drinking the JH’s definition is:

“High risk alcohol consumption is best defined as anything that exceeds the consumption of more than two standard drinks per day. High risk drinking, including binge drinking (consumption of excess alcohol over a short space of time) can put your health at serious risk.

Having more than four standard drinks on a single occasion (even if you only do it once or twice per week) may cause health problems, increase risk of injury and accidents and affect relationships with those close to you”.9

Health Care Provider

What if I would like help to drink less or stop drinking?

If you would like help to drink less or stop drinking, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. The JH note:

“If alcohol is affecting your health and you are having trouble stopping drinking, talk to your doctor and seek expert help”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Alcohol?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Alcohol?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. A.A. Around the World [Alcoholics Anonymous]
  2. A.A. Near You [Alcoholics Anonymous, United States]
  3. Al-Anon Family Groups
  4. Alcohol
  5. Alcohol
  6. Alcohol Awareness Week: Alcohol and Relationships [15-21 November 2021] Alcohol
  7. Alcohol Calorie Calculator
  8. Alcohol Intolerance
  9. Alcohol Misuse
  10. Alcohol Spending Calculator
  11. Alcohol Support
  12. Alcohol Support: Alcohol Units
  13. Alcohol Support: Calories In Alcohol
  14. Alcohol Support: Tips on Cutting Down
  15. Alcohol Support: ‘Social Drinking’: The Hidden Risks
  16. Alcohol Use Disorder
  17. Alcohol Use Disorder
  18. Alcohol Use and Cancer
  19. Alcohol Use: Weighing Risks and Benefits
  20. Alcohol and Breast Cancer
  21. Alcohol and Calories
  22. Alcohol and Cancer
  23. Alcohol and Cancer Risk
  24. Alcohol and Diabetes
  25. Alcohol and Diabetes
  26. Alcohol and Fitness
  27. Alcohol and Heart Disease
  28. Alcohol and Mental Health
  29. Alcohol and Mental Health [+ Video]
  30. Alcohol and Other Drugs
  31. Alcohol and Public Health: Excessive Alcohol Use and Risks to Women’s Health
  32. Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions
  33. Alcohol and Sex
  34. Alcohol and Sleep
  35. Alcohol and Stress
  36. Alcohol and Women
  37. Alcohol and Women
  38. Alcohol and Your Health – Is It Time To Rethink the Drink?
  39. Alcohol and the Liver
  40. Alcoholandcancer.eu [Alcohol and Cancer, Nordic Alcohol and Drug Policy Network (NordAN)]
  41. Alcoholchange.org.uk [Alcohol Change UK]
  42. Alcoholic Drinks and Units
  43. Alcohol’s Effect on Health
  44. Are You Drinking Too Much?
  45. Awareness Remains Low Over Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk
  46. Calories In Alcohol: How Many Calories Are In An Alcoholic Drink?
  47. Can I Drink Alcohol If I’m Taking Painkillers?
  48. Cocktail Content Calculator
  49. Confronting Alcohol Use Disorder and Misconceptions As A Woman
  50. Consumer Health: Expert Answers – What Are the Effects of Drinking Alcohol While Taking Antibiotics?
  51. Consumer Health: When Is A Hangover An Emergency?
  52. Considering A ‘Dry’ January? Hear From A Mayo Clinic Expert [+ Video Courtesy: Stephen Kopecky, M.D., Cardiovascular Disease]
  53. Consumer Health: Grape Juice, Red Wine and Heart Health
  54. Does Alcohol Make You Argue With Your Partner?
  55. Don’t Let A Little Habit Turn Into A Big Problem
  56. Drink-Refusal Skills: How To Say No To An Alcoholic Drink
  57. Drinkaware.co.uk [Drinkaware, United Kingdom]
  58. Drinkaware.co.uk: Track and Calculate Units App
  59. Drinkwise.org.au [DrinkWise]
  60. Dry January Alcohol
  61. Facts About Alcohol
  62. Framingham Heart Study
  63. Health Effects of Alcohol
  64. Hellosundaymorning.org [Hello Sunday Morning]
  65. How Alcohol Affects Relationships
  66. How Alcohol Affects Your Appearance
  67. How Is Your Drinking Affecting You?
  68. How To Cut Down
  69. How To Cut Down on Alcohol At Home
  70. How To Stay on Track
  71. Is A.A. for You? [Alcoholics Anonymous]
  72. Is Alcohol Affecting Your Sex Life?
  73. Is Drinking Alcohol Part of A Healthy Lifestyle?
  74. Keep Your Holiday Drinking on the Moderate Side With This Advice
  75. Limit Alcohol Consumption
  76. Low Alcohol Drinks
  77. Menopause, Ageing, and Alcohol Use Disorders In Women
  78. NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator: Find Your Way To Quality Alcohol Treatment [National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, United States]
  79. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [United States]
  80. Need Help With A Drinking Problem?
  81. Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefits
  82. Reasons for Cutting Down on Alcohol
  83. Reduce the Amount You and Your Partner Drink
  84. Rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov [Rethinking Drinking]
  85. Samhsa.gov [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
  86. Supporting Your Partner or Loved One
  87. The High Cost of Alcohol To Your Health
  88. The Link Between Drinking and Cancer
  89. Tips for Cutting Down
  90. Tuesday Tips: Small Ways To Curb Your Drinking [+ Video]
  91. Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder
  92. Unit & Calorie Calculator
  93. What Excuses Do You Give for Drinking Too Much?
  94. What Is An Alcohol Unit?
  95. What Is Sober Spring? [Sober Spring is a three-month alcohol-sabbatical, running from 20 March to 20 June] Sober Spring
  96. What Would You Tell Your Patients About Drinking Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk?
  97. Women Are Drinking More During the Pandemic, and It’s Probably Got A Lot To Do With Their Mental Health
  98. Women and Alcohol
  99. Womenforsobriety.org [Women for Sobriety]
  100. Worried About Someone Else’s Drinking?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefit – Deciding About Drinking. 11 December 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551 Accessed: 30 December 2021
  2. Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions – About Alcohol: What Is Alcohol? Page Last Reviewed: 16 February 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#top Accessed: 30 December 2021
  3. Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefit – Deciding About Drinking. 11 December 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551 Accessed: 30 December 2021
  4. Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions – Drinking Patterns: What Does Moderate Drinking Mean? Page Last Reviewed: 16 February 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#top Accessed: 30 December 2021
  5. UK Alcohol Unit Guidance: CMOs’ Low Risk Drinking Guidelines – Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. Drinkaware.co.uk https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/latest-uk-alcohol-unit-guidance/ Accessed: 30 December 2021
  6. Alcohol: Alcohol & Your Health: Low Risk Drinking. Last Updated: 15 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 February 2014. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/healthy-living/alcohol Accessed: 30 December 2021
  7. What Is A Standard Drink? National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/what-standard-drink Accessed: 30 December 2021
  8. What Is An Alcohol Unit? What Is An Alcohol Unit? Last Reviewed: 23 April 2020. Drinkaware.co.uk https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/what-is-an-alcohol-unit/ Accessed: 30 December 2021
  9. Alcohol: Alcohol & Your Health: High Risk Drinking. Last Updated: 15 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 February 2014. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/healthy-living/alcohol Accessed: 30 December 2021
  10. Alcohol: Alcohol & Menopause. Last Updated: 15 January 2020 | Last Reviewed: 17 February 2014. Jean Hailes https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/healthy-living/alcohol Accessed: 30 December 2021

Topic Last Updated: 31 December 2021 – Topic Last Reviewed: 30 December 2021
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