Taking alcohol may help you loosen up a little and live in the moment, especially on special occasions. Many even drink it to get rid of their social anxiety or to put themselves to sleep. But sometimes, we may take things a little too far in our quest for fun and convenience. If you have concerns about your alcohol intake or you just want to test to keep track of your consumption, you can get the drug test kits to collect your sample and run the test anywhere and anytime, as you please.

That said, while drinking occasionally may be harmless, alcohol begins to do more damage when taken frequently. So, how do you know when you’re abusing alcohol? 

In this article, we’ll share with you when your alcohol consumption goes from fun to problematic and some risks associated with alcohol abuse.      

Factors That Determine Intoxication After Alcohol Consumption 

Depending on certain factors, alcohol could affect its consumers differently. These factors influence how a person reacts to alcohol consumption.

• Age

Younger people who are of legal drinking age tend to resist the effects of alcohol much better than older people. They have a much better metabolism, which helps reduce the negative effects of alcohol in their body compared to older people. However, people above the age of 65 are at more risk of the negative effects of alcohol, as their body system is weaker. Older citizens dealing with alcohol-related diseases shouldn’t miss out on the Harris Teeter senior discount for amazing discounts on treatments and other professional assistance.

• Gender

Men have a higher tolerance to alcohol compared to women. So, they could consume the same amount of alcohol with a woman of the same size and feel the effects less than she would. 

• Body size

People with smaller body sizes tend to be more intoxicated than people that are bigger in size. This is because smaller people have lesser body water to dilute the alcohol.

• Comorbidities

Another group of people that’ll become impaired quicker are the ones with existing medical conditions. They usually have a difficult time processing alcohol.

• Genetics

The biological risks of alcohol are also a leading factor. People whose parents have higher levels of the enzymes that metabolize alcohol tend to also have these enzymes in higher levels, thereby helping them process it faster.

• Speed of consumption

Your Blood Alcohol Content depends on how quickly you consume a certain amount of alcohol within a short period of time. Metabolizing alcohol becomes slower when a large amount is taken over a short period.

Recognizing how these factors interact with your drinking habits can help you notice when alcohol starts to harm your day-to-day life. Many people reach out for professional help with alcoholism when they notice early warning signs such as sleep problems, mood changes, or trouble at work or home. Taking that step sooner rather than later gives you a better chance to regain control and protect your health.

When Does Excessive Alcohol Use Occur?

Considering the above factors, it is difficult to estimate or create a general measurement for excessive alcohol consumption. Nevertheless, there are ways for individuals to determine when they’re having too much alcohol.

Firstly, you need to know what a drink is. Using the United States standards, an alcoholic drink is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure ethanol. What this means is, that you have a drink anytime you consume:

• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or liquor with 40% (and above) alcohol
• 5 ounces of wine with 12% (and above) alcohol
• 8 ounces of malt liquor with 7% (and above) alcohol
• 12 ounces of a beer with 5% (and above) alcohol

That said, persons who take alcohol when they are under the age of 21 or are dealing with any medical condition caused by alcohol are considered excessive drinkers. Another way to classify excessive alcohol intake is by dividing your drinking pattern into two categories: Binge Drinking and Heavy Drinking.

What Is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is having a large amount of alcohol or drinking frequently over a short period. For men, having five or more drinks within the space of 2-3 hours can be considered binge drinking. For women, however, having four or more drinks within the same time frame can be considered binge drinking.

What Is Heavy Drinking?

Heavy drinking has to do with the number of drinks a person takes a week. For men, heavy drinking is 15 drinks or more a week and for women, it is 8 drinks or more per week.

Wrap Up

Too much alcohol can put you at risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioral disorders, cancer, diabetes, liver diseases, hypertension, digestive problems, and cancer. So, it is important that you drink in moderation or avoid drinking totally.