Alcohol consumption has the potential to result in organ damage that can ultimately lead to death. The brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 95,000 deaths result from excessive alcohol use each year. Also, it is estimated that 2.8 million years of potential life are lost annually from alcohol consumption. What’s more, one out of 10 deaths among working-age adults between 20 and 64 can be attributed to alcohol.

For women, binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks in a single occasion. For men, it’s five drinks. The CDC defines heavy drinking for women as consuming more than eight drinks per week. For men, consuming more than 15 drinks per week is considered heavy drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to various health issues like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, digestive distress and liver disease. There are also long-term risks for cancers of the breast, throat, colon, liver and mouth associated with excessive alcohol consumption.