Regularly drinking over 14 units of alcohol a week, the equivalent of 6 beers or 10 small glasses of wine poses multiple health implications. Drinking less than 14 units puts you at low risk, alcohol is a toxin after all, but health professionals state that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

So what happens when you take a sip of your favourite alcoholic drink?

There is about 10ml of pure alcohol in a single unit of alcohol. Regularly drinking over 14 units a week, the equivalent of 6 beers or 10 small glasses of wine poses multiple health implications. Drinking less than this amount also carries some of the risk associated with more regular drinkers, but with a lowered amount. Other factors can play a role including age, genes and other medical conditions. It's important to consider that alcohol is a toxin and health professionals state that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

Some of the short term effects of intoxication include:

  • Loss of coordination
  • Lack of social awareness and less inhibitions
  • Skin blushing
  • Vomiting
  • Passing out

Long term alcohol abuse can lead to numerous chronic conditions as the toxic effects of alcohol are amplified over time. Some such long term effects include:

  • Mouth, liver, throat, breast, bowel, laryngeal (voice box) and oesophagal (food pipe) cancer
  • Alcohol hepatitis
  • Memory loss and a lack of concentration
  • High blood pressure
  • Steatosis (fatty liver)

Although there are no safe levels of alcohol consumption, lowering the amount of alcohol you consume greatly reduces your risk to the short and long term effects of alcohol consumption listed above. Drinking alternatives such as low and non-alcoholic can really benefit your health.

‍