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Illustration of a person drinking alcohol with liquid entering the mouth and passing down the throat.

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Drinking and your body

This is how the human body processes alcohol step by step. How quickly this happens can be different for everyone, so it’s important to take your personal circumstances into account.

How does the body process alcohol?

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Illustration of a heart with a cog and heart rate pulse line to depict overall health

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Why do some people get tipsy quickly, while others can ‘hold their drink’? And why should some people not drink at all? Here are some factors that determine how drinking can affect each of us differently.

How does drinking affect you physically? It depends on who you are

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Caring for someone with alcohol misuse issues

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Your family and medical histories can have a real impact on how drinking affects you, versus other people. Here are five things to keep in mind.

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What do family and medical histories mean for how drinking affects you?

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Illustration of a human vein, showing alcohol entering the blood stream

http://www.nofas-uk.org/

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If you’re pregnant, what you eat and drink may also affect your child. Here’s what you should know about drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

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How does drinking affect pregnancy and breastfeeding?

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Illustration of a human torso with the heart exposed

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Drinking alcohol will affect your organs <a href="#refs1">(1)</a> when you drink, but the extent of the impact depends on many factors. Here’s what you need to know.

How does drinking affect the brain, liver and heart?

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While there’s no single agreed definition of a binge, drinking a large quantity of alcohol in a short space of time can have serious consequences.

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What are the short and long-term effects of binge drinking?

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This is how drinking alcohol may affect your risk of getting cancer

Illustration of a cancer cell surrounded by healthy human cells

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Is there a link between drinking and cancer?

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Nurse checking blood pressure of female patient

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Although the impact of drinking does vary between adults, and for some it’s best not to drink at all, there are facts you can keep in mind.

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How does drinking affect general health?

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As alcohol affects your attention, focus and coordination, excessive drinking will increase your chances of being injured. Here are the dangers to be aware of.

Doctor putting a bandage on a patient's foot

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Does drinking increase the risk of injury?

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There are two ways of understanding risk – absolute and relative risk. This is what they mean.

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Understanding Absolute and Relative Risk with Alcohol

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information from the NHS:

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Short answer: Excessive drinking can weaken your immune system. It may also make it more likely that you will engage in risky behaviour (including not wearing masks or following social distancing guidelines). This can increase your risk of getting COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The scientific evidence on drinking, in and of itself, and the risk of infection with the coronavirus is still evolving. Evidence relating to other infectious diseases shows that moderate drinkers are no more likely to become infected with such diseases than those who do not drink.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted some countries to introduce new restrictions and even bans on sale and service of alcohol during closings and lockdowns. Here are some basic facts.

Business woman wearing protective face mask

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Does drinking alcohol increase the chance of COVID-19 infection?

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Drinking and your mind

It depends on many factors but drinking can change how you feel in both positive and negative ways.

A group of friends hanging out and having a drink