Alcohol: What It Does to Your Body and How to Drink Safely

If you enjoy a glass of wine or a cold beer, you probably wonder how it really affects you. Alcohol isn’t just a party starter – it changes your brain chemistry, metabolism, and even the way medicines work.

How Alcohol Impacts Your Health

When you sip alcohol, it’s absorbed straight into your bloodstream. A few drinks can loosen up nerves, making you feel relaxed or more talkative. But after a certain point, that same chemical slows down brain signals, leading to poor judgment, slower reflexes, and blurry vision.

Long‑term heavy drinking raises the risk of liver disease, high blood pressure, and heart problems. Even moderate use can add extra calories and affect sleep quality. The good news? Cutting back or spacing drinks with water can lower most of these risks dramatically.

Alcohol Meets Medication: Common Interactions

Mixing booze with prescription meds is a recipe for trouble. Antidepressants like Wellbutrin, anti‑inflammatories such as ibuprofen, and blood thinners all react badly with alcohol, increasing side effects or making the drug less effective.

For example, combining alcohol with sedatives (e.g., benzodiazepines) can cause dangerous breathing slowdown. If you’re on a drug like Prednisone, drinking heavily may worsen stomach irritation. Always check the label or ask your pharmacist before you raise a glass while on medication.

Even over‑the‑counter products matter. Some pain relievers contain acetaminophen; mixing them with alcohol can damage the liver faster than either alone.

Practical Tips for Safer Drinking

• Know your limit: Most health agencies suggest up to one drink a day for women and two for men. A “drink” is roughly 14 g of pure alcohol – about 355 ml of beer, 150 ml of wine, or 45 ml of spirits.
• Stay hydrated: Alternate each alcoholic beverage with water. It slows down consumption and reduces hangover severity.
• Eat before you drink: Food, especially protein and fats, slows alcohol absorption, keeping blood levels steadier.
• Avoid empty‑stomach bingeing: Rapid intake spikes blood alcohol concentration, raising accident risk.
• Plan a safe ride home: If you’ve had more than one drink, use public transport or a rideshare instead of driving.

If you’re trying to cut back, start by setting a weekly limit and tracking each drink in an app. Small changes add up – swapping a nightly beer for sparkling water can shave off extra calories and improve sleep.

Remember, alcohol affects everyone differently based on age, weight, genetics, and health status. Listen to your body, stay informed about medication interactions, and enjoy responsibly.