Alcoholism - Introduction

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Moderate drinking is defined as:

• No more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women.

Low-Risk Drinking. Low-risk drinking is defined as:

• No more than 4 drinks in a day, or 14 drinks per week, for men
• No more than 3 drinks in a day, or 7 drinks per week, for women (both men and women over age 65 are advised not to drink more than this amount)

At-Risk (Heavy) Drinking. At-risk (heavy) drinking is defined as:

• More than 14 drinks per week, or four drinks in a day, for men
• More than seven drinks per week, or three drinks in a day, for women

Risk Level Assessment. According to the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), people who consume alcohol are considered:

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• At low risk for alcohol-related problems if they always drink within low-risk limits
• At increased risk if they drink more than either the single-day limits or the weekly limits
• At highest risk if they drink more than both the single-day limits and the weekly limits

Certain people are at much higher risk for harmful effects of alcohol, such as older individuals with high blood pressure or those taking medications for anxiety, arthritis, or pain.

Review Date: 01/13/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).