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, moderate alcohol consumption is defined as having up to 1 drink per day for women and up to 2 drinks per day for men. This definition refers to the amount consumed on any single day and is not intended as an average over several days. However, the Dietary Guidelines do not recommend that people who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason”.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 of pure alcohol. Because alcoholic drinks come in different strengths and sizes units are a good way of telling 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 16-22 November 2020: Alcohol and Mental Health [United Kingdom]
  7. Alcohol Calorie Calculator
  8. Alcohol Misuse
  9. Alcohol Spending Calculator
  10. Alcohol Support
  11. Alcohol Support Services
  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
  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: FAQ
  38. Alcohol and Your Health – Is It Time To Rethink the Drink?
  39. Alcohol and the Heart
  40. Alcohol and the Liver
  41. Alcoholchange.org.uk [Alcohol Change UK]
  42. Alcoholic Drinks and Units
  43. Alcohol’s Effect on Health
  44. Alcohol’s Ingredients, Chemicals and Manufacture
  45. Are You Drinking Too Much?
  46. Awareness Remains Low Over Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk
  47. Calories In Alcohol
  48. Can I Drink Alcohol If I’m Taking Painkillers?
  49. Cocktail Content Calculator
  50. Confronting Alcohol Use Disorder and Misconceptions As A Woman
  51. Does Alcohol Make You Argue With Your Partner?
  52. Don’t Let A Little Habit Turn Into A Big Problem
  53. Drink Alcohol Only In Moderation
  54. Drinkaware.co.uk [Drinkaware, United Kingdom]
  55. Drinkaware: Track and Calculate Units App
  56. Drinking Red Wine for Heart Health? Read This Before You Toast
  57. Drinkwise.org.au [DrinkWise]
  58. Dry January
  59. Facts
  60. Framingham Heart Study
  61. Health Effects of Alcohol
  62. Hellosundaymorning.org [Hello Sunday Morning]
  63. How Alcohol Affects Relationships
  64. How Alcohol Affects Your Appearance
  65. How Is Your Drinking Affecting You?
  66. How To Cut Down
  67. How To Cut Down on Alcohol At Home
  68. How To Stay on Track
  69. Is A.A. for You? [Alcoholics Anonymous]
  70. Is Alcohol Affecting Your Sex Life?
  71. Low Alcohol Drinks
  72. NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator: Find Your Way To Quality Alcohol Treatment [National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, United States]
  73. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Energy Drinks
  74. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism [United States]
  75. Need Help With A Drinking Problem?
  76. Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefits
  77. Reasons for Cutting Down on Alcohol
  78. Reduce the Amount You and Your Partner Drink
  79. Rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov [Rethinking Drinking]
  80. Samhsa.gov [Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration]
  81. Supporting Your Partner or Loved One
  82. The Daybreak App
  83. The Link Between Drinking and Cancer
  84. Tips for Cutting Down
  85. Try Dry: The App To Help You Cut Down
  86. Tuesday Tips: Small Ways To Curb Your Drinking [+ Video]
  87. Unit & Calorie Calculator
  88. Useful Links: Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs  [United Kingdom]
  89. What Excuses Do You Give for Drinking Too Much?
  90. What Is An Alcohol Unit? What Is A Unit of Alcohol?
  91. What Would You Tell Your Patients About Drinking Alcohol? [+ Video: What Would You Tell Your Patients About Drinking Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk?
  92. Women Are Drinking More During the Pandemic, and It’s Probably Got A Lot To Do With Their Mental Health
  93. Women and Alcohol
  94. Womenforsobriety.org [Women for Sobriety]
  95. World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research: Cancer Prevention Recommendations: Limit Alcohol Consumption
  96. 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. 26 October 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551 Accessed: 14 October 2020
  2. Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions – About Alcohol: What Is Alcohol? Page Last Reviewed: 15 January 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#top Accessed: 14 October 2020
  3. Nutrition and Healthy Eating: In-Depth – Alcohol: Weighing Risks and Potential Benefit – Deciding About Drinking. 26 October 2019. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551 Accessed: 14 October 2020
  4. Alcohol and Public Health: Frequently Asked Questions – Drinking Patterns: What Does Moderate Drinking Mean? Page Last Reviewed: 15 January 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#top Accessed: 14 October 2020
  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: 14 October 2020
  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: 14 October 2020
  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: 14 October 2020
  8. What Is An Alcohol Unit? What Is An Alcohol Unit? Drinkaware.co.uk https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-facts/alcoholic-drinks-units/what-is-an-alcohol-unit/ Accessed: 14 October 2020
  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: 14 October 2020
  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: 14 October 2020

Topic Last Updated: 14 October 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 October 2020
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