Alcohol
Alcohol and Sensible Drinking
What are the problems with drinking too much alcohol?
About 1 in 3 men and 1 in 7 women drink more than the safe levels. Many
people who drink heavily are not 'addicted' to alcohol, and are not
'alcoholics'. To stop or reduce alcohol would not be a problem if there was the
will to do so. However, for various reasons, many people have got into a habit
of drinking regularly and heavily, but drinking heavily is a serious health
risk.
If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of developing:
- Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Up to 3 in 10 long-term heavy
drinkers develop cirrhosis.
- Stomach disorders.
- Pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas).
- Mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and various
other problems.
- Sexual difficulties such as impotence.
- Muscle and heart muscle disease.
- High blood pressure.
- Damage to nervous tissue.
- Accidents - drinking alcohol is associated with an increased risk
of accidents. In particular, injury and death from fire and car crashes.
About 1 in 7 road deaths are caused by drinking alcohol.
- Some cancers (mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast).
- Obesity (alcohol has many calories).
- Damage to an unborn baby in pregnant women.
- Alcohol dependence (addiction).