If you choose to drink alcohol, how it affects your body, as well as your physical and mental health, depends to a large extent on how frequently you drink and in what quantities. But your drinking can also affect other people, whether in your immediate family and social circles or acquaintances and those you interact with. It’s important to remember that if you choose to drink, drinking moderately and responsibly is always the best option – not only for your own sake, but also for others.
Drinking can be a ‘social lubricant’, but only in moderation
Drinking often accompanies social occasions. Moderate drinking can facilitate conversation, making you more outgoing and more relaxed as you engage with other people
If your drinking becomes heavy, it can negatively affect your interaction with other people. As some people drink more, they become inebriated and potentially loud and boisterous. And as they’re less inhibited (2, 3), they may ignore boundaries and make those around them uncomfortable or even unsafe.
Excessive drinking can result in aggressive behavior
Heavy drinking has been linked with some violent behaviors and can escalate confrontations (3). Because large amounts of alcohol impair your coordination and reaction (4), you may be more likely to be injured or to hurt someone else. These injuries may also be more severe than when you’re sober as you may not be able to react in time to protect yourself.
Drinking and driving do not mix
The more you drink, the more alcohol reduces your ability to concentrate, your reaction time and the judgments you make (5). As a result, people who drink excessively are more likely to be involved in a road traffic crash, either as drivers or as pedestrians (6).