What are the problems of drinking too much alcohol?

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Your liver and body can usually cope with drinking a small amount of alcohol. Indeed, drinking a small amount of alcohol (1-2 units per day) may help to prevent heart disease and stroke.

However, drinking over the recommended limits (detailed below) can be harmful. If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of developing:

Serious liver problems (alcoholic liver disease).
Some stomach disorders.
Pancreatitis (severe inflammation of the pancreas).
Mental health problems including depression and anxiety.
Sexual difficulties such as impotence.
Muscle and heart muscle disease.
High blood pressure.
Damage to nervous tissue.
Accidents - drinking alcohol is associated with a much increased risk of accidents. In particular, injury and death from fire and car crashes. About 1 in 7 road deaths are caused by drinking alcohol.
Some cancers (mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast).
Obesity (alcohol has many calories).
Damage to an unborn baby in pregnant women.
Alcohol dependence (addiction).

In the UK deaths due to alcohol related diseases (particularly liver disease) have risen considerably over the last 20 years or so. This is because heavy drinking and binge drinking have become more common.

The rest of this leaflet is about alcoholic liver disease. See separate leaflets called 'Alcohol and Sensible Drinking' which deals with general aspects of alcohol, and 'Alcoholism and Problem Drinking' which includes information on alcohol dependence.