Is Alcohol a drug?

Yes! Alcohol is considered a drug because it affects your body changing the way you think, feel, and act. Alcohol is a depressant which means that it slows down your brain's ability to think, reason, and make decisions and judgements. Alcohol affects the area of the brain that controls respiration, therefore high levels of alcohol may induce coma or death.

Alcohol Facts

A standard alcoholic drink consists of 12 oz. of regular strength beer (5% alc./vol.), or 5 oz. of table wine (12% alc./vol.), or 1.5 oz. of spirits (40% alc./vol.). Each standard drink contains the same amount of alcohol, therefore it is not the type of beverage that affects you, it is the amount that you consume.

When alcohol is consumed, a small portion is absorbed through the lining of your mouth and stomach. The major site of alcohol absorption is the small intestine, where alcohol quickly enters the bloodstream and is carried throughout the body. Approximately 90% of the alcohol in your body is oxidized by the liver. The liver is capable of oxidizing 2/3 of a standard drink in one hour. The remaining 10% of the alcohol in your body is eliminated from the body through sweat, breath, and urine.

To minimize your risks of developing alcohol related problems such as health and social issues, injuries, and alcohol dependence, you should adhere to the following Low Risk Drinking Guidelines developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

• Drink no more than 2 standard drinks on any day.

• Limit your weekly intake to 14 or fewer standard drinks for men and 9 or fewer standard drinks for women. (Women have a greater proportion of body fat than men and therefore contain less water in their bodies to dilute the alcohol. As a result alcohol has a greater affect on a woman's body).

• Drink slowly to avoid intoxication, waiting at least one hour between drinks and taking alcohol with food and non-alcoholic beverages.

• If you abstain, don't start drinking alcohol for its protective effect against heart disease; there are less risky alternatives such as exercise, better nutrition, and quitting smoking.

• If you choose to drink, the protective effect of alcohol can be achieved with as little as one drink every other day.

There are certain individuals who should not use alcohol such as anyone operating a vehicle, women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding, people taking other drugs, and people who are under the legal drinking age.