ENJOY THAT GLASS.

If you are like many others drink alcohol at least occasionally. For many people, moderate drinking is probably safe. It may even have health benefits, including reducing your risk of certain heart problems. Moderate drinking is one drink a day for women or anyone over 65, and two drinks a day for men under 65.

Some people should not drink at all, including alcoholics, children, pregnant women, people on certain medicines and people with some medical conditions.

Who is Alcoholic: The most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful. However, millions can be classified as alcoholics or have alcohol problems.

Alcoholism is a disease with four main features:

• Craving - a strong need to drink
• Loss of control - not being able to stop drinking once you've started
• Physical dependence - withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, or shakiness when you don't drink
• Tolerance - the need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to feel the same effect

Alcoholism carries many serious dangers. Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers. It can cause damage to the liver, brain, and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby. Alcoholism also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide.

Anything more than moderate drinking can be risky. Binge drinking - drinking five or more drinks at one time - can damage your health and increase your risk for accidents, injuries and assault. Years of heavy drinking can lead to liver disease, heart disease, cancer and pancreatitis. It can also cause problems at home, at work and with friends.

Alcohol use and safe drinking

Alcohol use involves drinking beer, wine, or hard liquor.

Alcohol is one of the most widely used drug substances in the world.

THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

Alcoholic drinks have different amounts of alcohol in them:

• Beer is about 5% alcohol, although some beers can have more.
• Wine is usually 12 - 15% alcohol.
• Hard liquor is about 45% alcohol.

Alcohol gets into your bloodstream quickly.

The amount and type of food in your stomach can change how quickly this occurs. For example, high-carbohydrate and high-fat foods can make your body absorb alcohol more slowly.

Certain types of alcoholic drinks get into your bloodstream faster. A carbonated (fizzy) alcoholic drink, such as champagne, will be absorbed faster than a non-carbonated drink.

Alcohol slows your breathing rate, heart rate, and how well your brain functions. These effects may appear within 10 minutes and peak at around 40 - 60 minutes. Alcohol stays in your bloodstream until it is broken down by the liver. The amount of alcohol in your blood is called your "blood alcohol level." If you drink alcohol faster than the liver can break it down, this level will rise.

Your blood alcohol level is used to legally define whether or not you are "drunk." The blood alcohol legal limit usually falls between 0.08 and 0.10. Some countries have zero tolerance for driving. Below is a list of blood alcohol levels and the likely symptoms.

• 0.05 -- reduced inhibitions
• 0.10 -- slurred speech
• 0.20 -- euphoria and motor impairment
• 0.30 -- confusion
• 0.40 -- stupor
• 0.50 -- coma
• 0.60 -- respiratory paralysis and death

HEALTH RISKS OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol increases the risk of:

• Alcoholism or alcohol dependence
• Falls, drownings, and other accidents
• Head, neck, stomach, and breast cancers
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Risky sex behaviors, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Suicide and homicide

Drinking during pregnancy can harm the developing baby. Severe birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome are possible.

RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

If you drink alcohol, it is best to do so in moderation. Moderation means the drinking is not getting you intoxicated, or drunk, and you are drinking no more than 1 drink per day if you are a woman and no more than 2 if you are a man. A drink is defined as 360 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine, or 50 ml of liquor.

Here are some ways to drink responsibly, provided you do not have a drinking problem, are of legal age to drink alcohol, and are not pregnant:

• NEVER drink alcohol and drive a car.
• If you are going to drink, have a designated driver, or plan an alternative way home, such as a taxi or bus.
• Do not drink on an empty stomach. Snack before and while drinking alcohol.

If you are taking medication, including over-the-counter drugs, check with your doctor before drinking alcohol. Alcohol can intensify the effects of many drugs and can interact with other drugs, making them ineffective or dangerous, or making you sick.

Do NOT drink if you have a history of alcohol abuse or alcoholism.

If alcoholism runs in your family, you may be at increased risk of developing alcoholism yourself, and may want to avoid drinking alcohol altogether.