Facts About Alcohol: 51 Things You May Not Know

Alcohol is one of the most used drugs worldwide. It’s legal, accessible, socially acceptable, and relatively easy to abuse. With that, while some alcohol use may be safe, it’s important for people to understand its emotional, physical, and relational risks. Informing yourself of the facts about alcohol may help you feel more intentional about your relationship with alcohol.

What Is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a psychoactive substance that has been consumed in various forms for centuries. The alcohol in alcoholic beverages is called ethanol, and it’s made when yeast ferments sugars naturally found in grains and produce. Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows communication in the nervous system and affects perception, judgment, and decision-making.¹

51 Facts About Alcohol

Like all drugs, there is significant misinformation about alcohol, and believing certain myths can coincide with significant consequences. With that, it’s important for people who choose to drink to understand the risks and benefits thoroughly. It’s also crucial for parents to have this information on hand because many people experiment with alcohol when they’re underage.

51 facts about alcohol include:

1. 78.5% of Americans over age 12 report drinking alcohol at some point during their life.²
2. Approximately a quarter of all youth ages 12-17 have consumed alcohol at some point.²
3. About a quarter of all adults report binge drinking (having more than 4 drinks as a woman or 5 drinks as a man within about 2 hours) in the past month.²
4. 1 in 10 people over age 12 meets the criteria for an alcohol use disorder.³
5. Men are more likely to have an alcohol use disorder than women.³
6. More than 10% of all children live with a parent who has an alcohol use disorder.⁴
7. Nearly 14% of pregnant people report drinking during their pregnancy.⁵
8. About 5% of pregnant people report binge drinking.⁵
9. About 11% of pregnant women report drinking alcohol in the past month.⁵
10. About 1-5% of all first-grade children have fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.⁵
11. A standard drink is 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, and 1.5 oz of hard liquor like gin, rum, or whisky.⁶
12. Heavy drinking for a man refers to 15+ drinks per week.⁶
13. Heavy drinking for a woman refers to consuming 8+ drinks per week.⁶
14. There are approximately 88,000 alcohol-related deaths per year.
15. The cost of excessive alcohol use cost the U.S. over $249 billion in 2010 alone (a number that continues to rise).⁶
16. Excessive alcohol use contributes to $179 billion in lost workplace productivity costs.⁶
17.  Drinking alcohol can increase the chance of cancer, liver disease, cardiovascular issues, and stroke.⁷
18.  The body processes alcohol through the stomach and small intestine.⁷
19. The liver is responsible for breaking down about 91% of alcohol (and the rest is excreted through sweat, urine, and breathing).⁷
20. The liver can break down about 1 standard drink per hour.⁷
21. Alcohol initially raises blood pressure and triglycerides, particularly after binge drinking.⁷
22. Alcohol affects reaction times, judgment, and self-control.⁷
23. Alcohol and depression are known to go together.⁷
24. Alcohol may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety.⁷
25. Women who drink alcohol may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer than women who don’t drink.⁷
26. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can increase a baby’s risk of being born prematurely or underweight.⁷
27. Alcohol may diminish breast milk supply for nursing mothers.⁷
28. Current guidelines indicate there is no safe or no-risk level of alcohol for nursing mothers.⁷
29. For women who do choose to drink alcohol while breastfeeding, it’s advised to wait at least 2 hours before breastfeeding their baby per each standard drink.⁷
30. The rate of alcohol absorption is different for each person.⁷
31. Excessive and chronic alcohol consumption is the most common contributor to liver cirrhosis.⁸
32. Cirrhosis caused by drinking alcohol often develops over many years.⁸
33. People with pre-existing medical conditions, particularly those impacting the liver, may have a higher rate of developing cirrhosis.⁸
34. There is no current cure for cirrhosis of the liver, but treatment can manage certain symptoms.⁸
35. Alcohol intoxication refers to a buildup of alcohol in the system (where unmetabolized alcohol continuously circulates in the bloodstream).⁹
36. The amount of alcohol in someone’s body is measured by their blood alcohol concentration (BAC).⁹
37. A BAC of .30 percent may cause a coma, and a BAC of .40+ may cause death.⁹
38. Alcohol is a depressant drug.⁹
39. Because alcohol depletes the body of fluids, it may cause people to feel thirstier, which may result in them drinking more.⁹
40. Women tend to experience stronger and longer effects of alcohol than men.⁹
41. Food naturally slows down the speed of intoxication.⁹
42. Drinking quickly causes intoxication faster than sipping or drinking an alcoholic beverage slowly.⁹
43. People with higher tolerances to alcohol may present as sober even when they are intoxicated.⁹
44. Drinks consumed at higher altitudes can be twice as potent in their effect until someone adjusts to the elevation.⁹
45. Each day, about 37 people die in drunk-driving crashes.¹⁰
46. One person dies from a drunk-driving crash every 39 minutes.¹⁰
47. At just a 0.02 BAC, people have a marked decline in visual functions and the ability to perform two tasks simultaneously.¹
48. A first-time DUI will cost upwards of $10,000 in legal fees and fines.¹⁰
49. It’s recommended to avoid driving after any form of drinking.¹
50. Many states mandate that offenders of drunk driving install ignition interlock devices at the driver’s personal expense.¹
51. It is illegal to drive under the influence in every state.¹

Myths About Alcohol

There are many prevailing myths about alcohol. Some of these myths have been perpetuated by certain groups of people, and others have been maintained by society at large (most of which downplay the dangers of drinking). Having the correct information on hand is important for understanding the risks associated with drinking.

Myths about alcohol include:

Myth: Wine or Beer Won’t Make You as Drunk as Hard Liquor

How much someone drinks affects their level of intoxication more than what they drink. With that, consuming too much of any type of alcohol (regardless of what it is) can cause someone to get drunk. In some cases, people are more likely to get drunk from wine or beer because they deem these beverages as less harmful.

Myth: You Can Do Certain Things to Sober Up Faster

Time is the only distinguishing factor that causes someone to sober up and there isn’t anything you can do to sober up faster. Caffeine, cold showers, sleep, eating a meal, and engaging in physical activity may help people feel more alert, but feeling wakeful isn’t the same as being sober. In most cases, the human liver takes one hour to process each standard drink.

Myth: Alcoholics Drink Each Day

People with alcohol use disorder may drink every day, but addiction is more about the underlying feelings and behaviors related to a substance than the actual quantity of the substance consumed. Many people struggling with alcoholism have binge drinking patterns where they can’t stop drinking once they start (even if they don’t drink each day), and not everyone who drinks everyday is an alcoholic.

Myth: Alcohol Can Help Improve Sleep

Some people have a nightcap because alcohol may help them fall asleep faster. This creates the illusion that alcohol promotes better sleep. In reality, the opposite is actually true. Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to engage in deep sleep (known as REM sleep), which often causes more fatigue and restlessness throughout the day.

Myth: It’s Best to Manage Hangovers By Drinking More Alcohol

Hangovers can be physically uncomfortable, which is why some people continue drinking in the morning to stave them off. However, drinking more alcohol only delays and prolongs the recovery process. It can also keep people drunk when they have important functions to attend to. When the body is trying to detoxify itself from alcohol, drinking more only adds more time to this process.

When to Seek Professional Help

Alcohol use can worsen progressively over time, and sometimes a substance use disorder can be insidious. If you suspect you’re struggling with alcoholism, consider meeting with a therapist specializing in addiction. You can look through our online therapist directory or an online therapy platform to get started. Medication may help manage mental health symptoms underlying addiction- many psychiatrists offer both in-person and online psychiatristry options.

Facts About Alcohol Infographics

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