What You Don't Know Can Harm You
If you are like many Americans, you may drink alcohol occasionally.
Or, like others, you may drink moderate amounts of alcohol on a more
regular basis. If you are a woman or someone over the age of 65, this
means that you have no more than one drink per day; if you are a man,
this means that you have no more than two drinks per day. Drinking at
these levels usually is not associated with health risks and can help
to prevent certain forms of heart disease.
But did you know that even moderate drinking, under certain
circumstances, is not risk free? And that if you drink at more than
moderate levels, you may be putting yourself at risk for serious
problems with your health and problems with family, friends, and
coworkers? This booklet explains some of the consequences of drinking
that you may not have considered.
NIH Publication No. 99-4323
Printed 1999
