If you’ve been in Wisconsin longer than a week, you know that alcohol plays a large role in our culture here. Of course beer, wine, and liquor can be enjoyed safely and responsibly. But what constitutes responsible drinking? This month’s Aurora EAP Focus of the Month offers some guidelines on how much alcohol is considered a safe amount, along with information about some of the negative effects it can have on your body.

How Much Is Too Much?
Many people are surprised to learn what counts as a drink. In the United States, one “standard” drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in:

• 12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5 percent alcohol
• 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12 percent alcohol
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40 percent alcohol

Research shows that people who drink moderately may be less likely to experience an alcohol use disorder. Recommended moderate drinking levels differ for the average man and woman, because of differences in size and physiology.

For men: No more than four drinks on any single day AND no more than 14 drinks per week is considered moderate.

For women: No more than three drinks on any single day AND no more than seven drinks per week is considered moderate.

You must stay within both the single-day and weekly limits to not be considered at risk for an alcohol use disorder. That said, even within these limits, you can experience problems with alcohol if you drink too quickly or have other health issues.

Heavy or “At-Risk” Drinking
For healthy adults in general, heavy drinking means consuming more than the single-day or the weekly amounts listed above. Approximately one in four people who drink above these levels may already have problems with alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse.

Binge Drinking
“Binge drinking” means drinking so much within a specific time frame that your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels reach 0.08g/dL. For women, this usually occurs after about four drinks, and for men, after about five, over a two-hour period. Drinking this much, this quickly, can pose health and safety risks, including auto accidents and injuries. Over the long term, binge drinking can damage your liver and other organs.

Effects on Your Body
Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take a serious toll on your health. Alcohol can have serious effects on your brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and your immune system. It can also increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer.

If you would like more information on the use of alcohol, contact the Aurora EAP at 800-236-3231 to make an appointment with a counselor or check out our website at: www.aurora.org/eap for articles on this topic. If you would like to talk confidentially with someone about your own or someone else’s use of alcohol, please call your Aurora EAP at 800-236-3231 to schedule an in-person or phone consultation with an EAP counselor.