No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health

Over 3 million annual deaths due to alcohol and drug use, majority among men Alcohol as an immunosuppressant increases the risk of communicable diseases, including tuberculosis and HIV. Alcoholic beverages are classified as carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and increase the risk of several cancer types. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 20 to 39 years, accounting for 13% of all deaths in this age group. Harmful use of alcohol is accountable for 6,9 % and 2.0% of the global burden of disease for males and females respectively.

Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. This may result in craving alcohol to try to restore good feelings or reduce negative ones. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.

Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 4.7% of the global burden of disease. Drinking moderately if you’re otherwise healthy may be a risk you’re willing to take. During pregnancy, drinking may cause the unborn baby to have brain damage and other problems.

Heavy drinking also has been linked to intentional injuries, alcohol use disorder and timeline of alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as suicide, as well as accidental injury and death. That usually means four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men. As consumption goes up, the risk goes up for these cancers.

Reducing the harm from alcohol – by regulating cross-border alcohol marketing, advertising and promotion:…

The WHO European Region has been proactive in addressing the harm caused by alcohol through several key initiatives and frameworks. A relatively high proportion of alcohol harm occurs early in the life course. Despite this, the question of beneficial effects of alcohol has been a contentious issue in research for years. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe. “We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use.

In the United States, people younger than age 21 are not legally able to drink alcohol. Heavy drinking also may result in alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Binge drinking is behavior that raises blood alcohol levels to 0.08%. The definition of heavy drinking is based on a person’s sex.

Mayo Clinic Press

While the risk is low for moderate intake, the risk goes up as the amount you drink goes up. Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol In 2019, the worldwide total consumption was equal to 5.5 litres of pure alcohol per person 15 years and older. There are 230 different types of diseases where alcohol has a significant role. Explore a world of health data This comprehensive report details the full extent of the way that alcohol is being marketed across national borders – often by digital means –…

This manual is written to help primary health care workers – physicians, nurses, community health workers, and others – to deal with persons whose alcohol… Around 1 in every 3 deaths in men and 1 in every 5 deaths in women between 30 and 40 years of age were due to alcohol. The negative effects of alcohol consumption disproportionately affect younger and vulnerable populations, and contribute significantly to the burden of noncommunicable diseases in the Region.

Alcohol and cancer

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Be sure to ask your healthcare professional about what’s right for your health and safety. When taking care of children, avoid alcohol. Health agencies outside the U.S. may define one drink differently. Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for you.

Early intervention can prevent alcohol-related problems in teens. Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain. Alcohol use may begin in the teens, but alcohol use disorder occurs more frequently in the 20s and 30s, though it can start at any age. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help.

WHO response in the WHO European Region

Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization, as harms from a given amount and pattern of drinking are higher for poorer drinkers and their families than for richer drinkers in any given society. Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest alcohol consumption level and the highest proportion of drinkers in the population. In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed.

Reducing youth exposure to alcogenic environments: What can be learnt from community-led approaches?

Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer. A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death. Genetic, psychological, social and environmental factors can impact how drinking alcohol affects your body and behavior. If you’re concerned about someone who drinks too much, ask a professional experienced in alcohol treatment for advice on how to approach that person.

Deciding about drinking

Every day, around 2191 people die from alcohol-related causes in the Region. The WHO European Region has the highest levels of alcohol consumption and the highest burden of alcohol-related harm in the world. “So, when we talk about possible so-called safer levels of alcohol consumption or about its protective effects, we are ignoring the bigger picture of alcohol harm in our Region and the world.

• Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.
• It also causes harm to the well-being and health of people around the drinker.
• The 2010 WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and the 2022 WHO Global action plan are the most comprehensive international alcohol policy documents, endorsed by WHO Member States, that provides guidance on reducing the harmful use of alcohol at all levels.
• Around 1 in every 3 deaths in men and 1 in every 5 deaths in women between 30 and 40 years of age were due to alcohol.
• In the past, moderate drinking was thought to be linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease and possibly diabetes.

Surrogate and illegally produced alcohols can bring an extra health risk from toxic contaminants. In this context, it is easy to overlook or discount the health and social damage caused or contributed to by drinking. When it comes to alcohol, if you don’t drink, don’t start for health reasons.

Harm to others from drinking: patterns in nine societies

• But heavy drinking carries a much higher risk even for those without other health concerns.
• Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.
• Overall, harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 4.7% of the global burden of disease.
• Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.
• Here, over 200 million people in the Region are at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer.

Here, over 200 million people in the Region are at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. Theories suggest that for certain people drinking has a different and stronger impact that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Binge drinking causes significant health and safety risks. The 2010 WHO Global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and the 2022 WHO Global action plan are the most comprehensive international alcohol policy documents, endorsed by WHO Member States, that provides guidance on reducing the harmful use of alcohol at all levels.

If you already drink at low levels and continue to drink, risks for these issues appear to be low. It means on days when a person does drink, women do not have more than one drink and men do not have more than two drinks. Moderate alcohol use may not mean the same thing in research studies or among health agencies. Here’s a closer look at alcohol and health.