Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation

If you don’t drink alcohol, there’s no reason to start. If you choose to drink, having only a moderate (limited) amount can lower your risk for health problems caused by drinking. Some people shouldn’t drink at all, like people younger than 21 years, people who are pregnant or might be pregnant, and people with certain health conditions.

What is a moderate amount of alcohol?

A moderate amount of alcohol means:

• 1 drink or less in a day for women
• 2 drinks or less in a day for men

Remember that drinking less is always better for your health than drinking more. Even moderate drinking can have health risks.

What is 1 drink equal to?

Different types of beer, wine, and liquor have different amounts of alcohol. In general, 1 standard drink is equal to a:

• Bottle or can of regular beer (12 ounces)
• Glass of wine (5 ounces)
• Shot of distilled spirits, such as gin, rum, or vodka (1.5 ounces)

Keep in mind that the size of the drink and the percent of alcohol makes a difference. For example, many beers are about 5% alcohol, but some have higher percentages of alcohol. And some beers are sold in bigger sizes than the standard 12 ounces. 

Different drinks have different amounts of calories, too. These calories add up — and getting more calories than you need can make it harder to stay at a healthy weight. For example, a 12-ounce bottle of beer has about 150 calories. 

• Learn more about the amount of alcohol in different drinks
• Calculate how many standard drinks are in different alcoholic beverages
• Find out how many calories are in a drink

Drinking more than a moderate amount of alcohol can put you at risk for personal and health problems, including alcohol use disorder. 

What are the risks of drinking too much?

Drinking too much raises your risk for many health problems, including serious conditions that can lead to death. Some examples of alcohol-related health problems include:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Liver disease
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• 7 types of cancer
• Depression and anxiety
• Stroke

Even moderate drinking may raise your risk for some types of heart disease and cancer. For example, the risk of breast cancer increases even at low levels of drinking (for example, less than 1 drink in a day). 

Alcohol can also change your behavior. Drinking too much can put you and others at risk for:

• Accidents, violence, and injuries
• Unplanned pregnancy or STIs (sexually transmitted infections) from unprotected sex

Learn more about the risks of drinking too much. 

What is alcohol use disorder?

If drinking causes problems in your life, you may have alcohol use disorder (also called alcoholism). 

You may have alcohol use disorder if any of these things are true:

• You can’t control how much or how often you drink
• You need to drink more and more to feel the effects
• You feel anxious, irritable, or stressed when you aren’t drinking
• You find yourself thinking a lot about when you can drink next 
• Alcohol is causing problems with your work, relationships, or health

Certain health problems — like depression or anxiety, sleep problems, and chronic pain — can put you at a higher risk for alcohol use disorder.

Talk with your doctor right away if you have signs of alcohol use disorder — even if you don’t think they’re causing any problems in your life. There are treatments that can help. See more signs of alcohol use disorder. 

Who shouldn't drink at all?

Don’t drink at all if you:

• Are pregnant or might be pregnant — alcohol can harm a developing baby
• Are younger than 21 years
• Take certain over-the-counter or prescription medicines — check medicine labels or ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe to drink while taking your medicines 
• Are recovering from alcohol use disorder or can’t control how much you drink
• Have a health condition that can be made worse by drinking (such as liver disease or HIV)
• Plan to drive or do other activities that require skill, coordination, and alertness (like using sharp tools or cooking on a stove)