🍷 Alcohol and health
Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
Alcohol and health is a topic about how the alcohol (ethanol) in wine and other drinks affects human health. Alcohol, or ethanol, is present in every wine, beer and spirit. In large amounts it is harmful, and the risks grow with the quantity drunk. This is what medical data and the recommendations of the World Health Organization say. The WHO stresses that there is no completely safe level of drinking.
Alcohol affects the liver, heart and nervous system and raises the risk of several diseases. It can cause dependence. It is dangerous when driving, where it is best not to drink at all. Alcohol is not recommended for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, and the law forbids selling it to minors.
Doctors measure the amount of alcohol in standard servings so that drinks can be compared. Many countries have guidelines on moderation. The so-called French paradox is often mentioned, but scientists dispute whether wine really protects the heart.
This page does not recommend drinking alcohol. It explains what is known about it. If you have questions about your health, talk to a doctor.
What it includes
How it connects to Wine
🍷 Alcohol and health → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
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- 🍷 Ethanol
- Next step
- 🍷 WHO on alcohol
- What affects it
- 🍷 Wine, 🍷 Legal drinking age
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine
- Similar and different
- 🍷 Wine in Islam
Frequently asked questions
Is there a safe amount of alcohol?
The WHO stresses there is no completely safe level: risks grow with the amount.
Can one drink when driving or pregnant?
No. It is best not to drink at all when driving, and alcohol is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
What is a standard serving?
A conventional measure of the alcohol in a drink, used by doctors to compare wine, beer and spirits.
What to read next
- 🍷 Legal drinking age — The minimum age for buying wine, from 16 to 21 depending on the country.
- 🍷 Wine in Islam — In Islam, alcohol, including wine, is forbidden.
- 🍷 WHO on alcohol — The World Health Organization considers that there is no safe level of alcohol.