Alcohol and Your Health

How much drinking is too much? It’s important to be aware of the amount of alcohol you are drinking, the harm that drinking can cause, and ways to reduce your risks.

It can be hard to tell if you’re drinking too much. That’s because alcohol use does not just fall into a normal pattern or alcohol abuse—it’s a range from not drinking at all to using in excess.

Drinking too much alcohol on any single day or over time can lead to serious health problems. If you take certain medications or have a condition like liver disease, drinking alcohol is not recommended.

Standard alcoholic beverage chart

Graphic of Alcohol drinks alcohol percentage

Talk to your doctor

If you are a woman who has more than 3 drinks at one time or more than 7 drinks a week
If you are a man who has more than 4 drinks at one time or more than 14 drinks a week

Photo of woman preparing food in kitchen

Need support to lower your drinking risk?

We have specialists who can help you safely and privately. Call your local area. You do not need a referral.

Antelope Valley | 661-951-0070

Baldwin Park | 626-814-6500

Downey | 562-657-2011

Kern County | 855-323-2700

Los Angeles | 323-783-8206

Orange County | 714-748-6226

Panorama City | 818-758-1200

Riverside | 951-601-6174

San Bernardino County | 909-427-5128

San Diego | 619-221-6550

South Bay | 310-513-6707

West Los Angeles | 310-915-4515

Woodland Hills | 855-701-7955

Wellness Tools

Video

Help With Your Medicine

Hi! I'm Dr. Mike Evans and today's discussion is about... Alcohol and health

Video

A ReThink of the Way We Drink

This video is a collaboration between Dr. Mike Evans and a research team led by Dr. Katharine Bradley of Group Health, a Seattle-based, consumer-governed non-profit health system.

Person pushing away alcoholic beverage from friend

Website

Alcohol Self-Assessment

This self-assessment can help you determine if you’re drinking within the recommended healthy limits — or if you should consider quitting or cutting back. The tool is designed for adults 21 and older.

Website

Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder means having unhealthy or dangerous drinking habits, such as drinking every day or drinking too much at a time. It can range from mild to severe. The more signs you have, the more severe the disorder may be. Moderate to severe alcohol use disorder is sometimes called addiction.

Website

Alcohol and Drug Use

Some people who drink alcohol, use illegal drugs, or misuse prescription or nonprescription medicines may develop substance use disorder. This means that a person uses these substances even though it causes harm to themselves or others.

Group of young adults having cocktails in backyard

Video

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

Learn the daily and weekly limits of alcohol for men and women. Understand the effects of alcohol abuse on the body.

Handout

Learning About Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder means that a person drinks alcohol even though it causes harm to themselves or others. It can range from mild to severe. The more signs of this disorder you have, the more severe it may be. Moderate to severe alcohol use disorder is sometimes called addiction. People who have it may find it hard to control their use of alcohol.

Handout

Alcohol and Your Health

You must meet both the daily and the weekly limits to be a low-risk drinker. Studies show that drinking risk is affected by factors such as body weight, metabolism, and fat distribution.

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Social Health

When you think about health, you might think of doctor visits and medicine. But what about access to healthy food? Or a safe place to live? Good health requires more than just health care. You need to be supported in mind, body, and spirit.