What amount of alcohol consumption is considered excessive?

Alcohol Consumption Guidelines: How Much is Too Much?

For healthy adults, alcohol consumption should be limited to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women, with no more than 14 drinks per week for men and 7 drinks per week for women. 1

Standard Drink Definition

A standard drink in the United States contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is equivalent to:

• 12 ounces of beer (5% alcohol)
• 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol)
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol) 1

Recommended Limits by Population

General Adult Population

• Men: Maximum of 2 drinks per day, not exceeding 14 drinks per week
• Women: Maximum of 1 drink per day, not exceeding 7 drinks per week 1
• Adults over 65: Should follow the lower limits recommended for women (1 drink per day, 7 drinks per week) 1

High-Risk Populations Who Should Avoid Alcohol Completely

• Pregnant women or those who may become pregnant
• Individuals with a history of alcohol abuse or dependence
• People taking medications that interact with alcohol
• Those with certain medical conditions (liver disease, pancreatitis, advanced neuropathy)
• People who plan to drive or operate machinery
• Children and adolescents 1

Definitions of Excessive Drinking

Binge Drinking

• Men: 5 or more drinks on a single occasion
• Women: 4 or more drinks on a single occasion 2, 3

Heavy Drinking

• Men: More than 4 drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week
• Women: More than 3 drinks on any day or more than 7 drinks per week 1, 4

High-Intensity Drinking

• Consumption of alcohol at levels that are twice or more the gender-specific binge drinking thresholds (8+ drinks for women, 10+ drinks for men) 5

Health Risks of Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol consumption beyond recommended limits is associated with:

• Cancer risk: Established risk factor for cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colorectum, and female breast 1
• Cardiovascular disease: Increased risk of hypertension, stroke, and heart failure with excessive consumption 1
• Liver disease: Increased risk of fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis 1
• Mortality: Excessive drinking accounts for approximately 95,000 deaths in the United States each year 2

Health Considerations

• While light to moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with some cardiovascular benefits in middle-aged or older adults, these benefits can be achieved through other means (healthy diet, physical activity) 1
• For individuals with existing liver disease, including cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, complete abstinence is recommended 1
• For people with diabetes, moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk of delayed hypoglycemia, especially if taking insulin or insulin secretagogues 1

Common Misconceptions

• "Sobering up" methods like coffee, cold showers, or exercise do not accelerate alcohol metabolism 4
• The body metabolizes alcohol at a relatively fixed rate of 0.015-0.020 g/dL per hour, regardless of interventions 4
• Drinking patterns matter: consuming 7 drinks in one day is not equivalent to having 1 drink daily for a week 1

Screening and Intervention

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening all adults for alcohol misuse in primary care settings and providing behavioral counseling interventions to those engaged in risky drinking 1, 4.

For those who exceed recommended limits, evidence shows that behavioral counseling interventions can effectively reduce alcohol consumption and increase adherence to recommended drinking limits 1.