For most people who drink, alcohol is a pleasant accompaniment to
social activities. Moderate alcohol use-up to two drinks per day for
men and one drink per day for women and older people-is not harmful for
most adults. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce bottle or can of either
beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of
80-proof distilled spirits.) Nonetheless, a large number of people get
into serious trouble because of their drinking. Currently, nearly 14
million Americans-1 in every 13 adults-abuse alcohol or are alcoholic.
Several million more adults engage in risky drinking that could lead to
alcohol problems. These patterns include binge drinking and heavy
drinking on a regular basis. In addition, 53 percent of men and women
in the United States report that one or more of their close relatives
have a drinking problem.
The consequences of alcohol misuse are serious-in many cases, life
threatening. Heavy drinking can increase the risk for certain cancers,
especially those of the liver, esophagus, throat, and larynx (voice
box). Heavy drinking can also cause liver cirrhosis, immune system
problems, brain damage, and harm to the fetus during pregnancy. In
addition, drinking increases the risk of death from automobile crashes
as well as recreational and on-the-job injuries. Furthermore, both
homicides and suicides are more likely to be committed by persons who
have been drinking. In purely economic terms, alcohol-related problems
cost society approximately $185 billion per year. In human terms, the
costs cannot be calculated.