The average British man drinks 17 units of alcohol a week, and the average woman 7.6 units and rising. Meanwhile, the number of alcohol-related deaths (such as health complications, accidents and murders) have tripled in the last 20 years.

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol, made of fermented sugars from fruits or yeast, causes a pleasurable drunk effect and is said to have health properties. On the other hand, it can lead to destructive behaviour and addiction, while the health risks caused by excessive drinking are vast.

Alcohol Information: The Immediate Effects of Alcohol

When you drink alcohol, alcohol passes from your stomach to your small intestine, where it is absorbed into the blood stream and carried throughout the body to the heart, lungs, muscles and brain via the liver. The higher the concentration of alcohol in your blood, the greater its effect will be.

The liver eliminates alcohol from your body by transforming it into toxic acetaldehyde, then acetate, before flushing it from the body. The process happens slowly, at about one unit an hour, which means you could still be over the limit the morning after a really big night out, and one drink at lunch time could push you over again.

Alcohol is a type of drug that encumbers your body’s nerve impulses, slowing down your reactions, and hampers the parts of the brain involved self-control, creating the feeling of being drunk or having slurred speech. When you are drunk you may become uncoordinated and shaky, or experience blurred vision.

People who are drunk also have strongly exaggerated emotional responses, becoming aggressive or sad, and have impaired judgement which sometimes leads to dangerous or inappropriate behaviour.

Are you worried about how much alcohol you drink? Or do you think someone you know may be an alcoholic? Share your thoughts, views and experiences on drinking alcohol with other users using the Comment on this Article box below. Plus, to keep up to date with all the latest alcohol health news and lots more health tips on diet, healthy eating and more, sign-up for the monthly KeeptheDoctorAway Newsletter below.

Understanding Alcohol: Find out more about alcohol and its affects on the body.

Alcoholism - The Signs: Find out what to look for to see if someone you know is an alcoholic.

Alcohol: The Health Dangers: Understand the Health risks involved with heavy drinking.

Alcohol & Driving: Know your limits.

Drinking & Depression: Understand how drinking can cause depression in certain people.

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Information and advice on how much you can drink when pregnant and the health effects.

Alcohol & Family Life: How drinking can affect your family life, plus information on teenage drinking.