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Depending on how much is taken and the physical condition of the individual, alcohol can cause:

Slurred speech

Drowsiness

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Upset stomach

Headaches

Breathing difficulties

Distorted vision and hearing

Impaired judgment

Decreased perception and coordination

Unconsciousness

Anemia (loss of red blood cells)

Coma

Blackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker cannot remember events that occurred while under the influence)

Long-term effects of alcohol

Binge drinking and continued alcohol use in large amounts are associated with many health problems, including:

Unintentional injuries such as car crash, falls, burns, drowning

Intentional injuries such as firearm injuries, sexual assault, domestic violence

Increased on-the-job injuries and loss of productivity

Increased family problems, broken relationships

Alcohol poisoning

High blood pressure, stroke, and other heart-related diseases

Liver disease

Nerve damage

Sexual problems

Permanent damage to the brain

Vitamin B₁ deficiency, which can lead to a disorder characterized by amnesia, apathy and disorientation

Ulcers

Gastritis (inflammation of stomach walls)

Malnutrition

Cancer of the mouth and throat

"My addiction built steadily and, before I realized it, I had become a morning as well as an afternoon drinker. "I decided to stop drinking. I lay awake most of that night, and by noon the next day every bone in my body ached. In a blind panic, I nervously poured a glass full of gin, my hands shaking so violently that I spilled half the bottle. As I gulped it down, I could feel the agony gradually lessening. Then I finally knew the terrible truth: I was hooked. I couldn't quit."
-Faye

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Short- & Long-Term Effects of Alcohol - Negative Side Effects on the Body - Drug-Free World

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Depending on how much is taken and the physical condition of the individual, alcohol can cause: Slurred speech Drowsiness Vomiting Diarrhea Upset stomach Headaches Breathing difficulties Distorted vision and hearing Impaired judgment Decreased perception and coordination Unconsciousness Anemia (loss of red blood cells) Coma Blackouts (memory lapses, where the drinker

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-Liver damage
-Cirrhosis
-Brain cells die
-Blood pressure increases
-Death
-Fetal alcohol syndrome in children
-Liver cancer
-Vitamin deficiencies
-Memory loss
-Sleep impairment
-Slow growth of cells

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0:00 / 0:15•Watch full video

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-release of tension
-slow reflexes
-poor concentration
-perception is unclear
-slurred speech
-sleepiness
-altered vision
-increased blood alcohol levels
-vomiting
-coma
-bad breath
-hangovers
-memory loss
-affected heart rate

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Although traffic fatalities are lower than they were at the turn of the century, alcohol-related crashes still kill about 10,000 people per year in the United States, with alcohol being a factor in one out of three motor vehicle deaths.﻿﻿

Despite all the warnings, public awareness and educational programs, and stiffer penalties for violations, people will still get behind the wheel of their vehicles while intoxicated. Drunk driving numbers for high schoolers decreased by half between 1991 and 2012, but teens are still at risk whether they are the drivers or not.﻿﻿

How Dangerous Is Drinking and Driving?

According to a 2014 study, an adult driver with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 is seven times more likely to be involved in a fatal motor vehicle crash than a sober driver. Young adult drivers (ages 21-34) with a 0.08 BAC are 12 times as likely to be in a fatal car crash than drivers who haven't had alcohol.﻿﻿

Basically, the more you drink, the more likely you are to have a fatal accident. The odds of having any vehicle accident, fatal or otherwise, increase at similar rates.﻿﻿ Here are the cold, hard facts.

Alcohol Increases Your Risk of a Crash

A 160-pound person drinking two 12-ounce beers within an hour would probably have a BAC of 0.04, well below the legal limits of driving under the influence, but 1.4 times more likely to have an accident than someone who is sober.﻿﻿

One of the problems with setting the legal limit for "drunk driving" at a blood-alcohol content level of 0.08 is it sends the message that if you are not yet legally drunk, you are therefore okay to drive.

Impairment Begins Below 0.08 BAC

The problem lies in the fact that impairment begins long before you reach the 0.08 level. Scientific research explicitly shows that some of the skills that you need to drive safely begin to deteriorate even at the 0.02 blood-alcohol level.﻿﻿

Is It Safe to Drink Just Two More Beers?

If you had those first two beers that raised your BAC to 0.04 and now you drink two more beers to raise your BAC to 0.08, your likelihood of an accident goes up drastically. At 0.08 BAC, a driver is 11 times more likely than the non-drinking driver to be involved in a crash. As the amount of alcohol in the driver's system rises numerically on the BAC scale, the likelihood of a traffic accident multiplies.﻿﻿

Now add two more beers to your total, you are up to having consumed a six-pack and have likely passed the 0.10 BAC level. Your likelihood of having an accident is now 48 times higher than the abstainer.

Two more beers: Hey, you've already had a six-pack, two more couldn't hurt, right? Except two more beers could put your BAC close to 0.15, at which point you are 380 times more likely to have an accident.

Play It Smart

Play it smart during weekends and holidays. If you plan to party away from home-and this includes on the water-be sure to appoint a designated driver for the car or operator of the boat.

Consider calling a cab or using a rideshare app to get yourself and your loved ones home safe and protect everyone else on the road. Better yet, if you are going to be drinking away from home, use those options to get to the party so you don't have a car handy that you'll be tempted to drive when your judgment is impaired by alcohol.

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Cold, Hard Facts About How Alcohol Impairs Your Driving Skills

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Although traffic fatalities are lower than they were at the turn of the century, alcohol-related crashes still kill about 10,000 people per year in the United States, with alcohol being a factor in one out of three motor vehicle deaths.﻿﻿ Despite all the warnings, public awareness and educational programs, and stiffer penalties for violations, people will still get behind the wheel of their vehicles while intoxicated.