Most people know that excessive drinking is bad but don’t really know the definition of excessive drinking. That’s because the standards vary according to body weight, the size of the glass and the amount of the pour. One drink filled to the brim may equal three smaller glasses, and thus, the person who claims to have had two glasses of wine at dinner may, in fact, be consuming triple that amount.
Ethyl alcohol is the ingredient found in wine, beer and liquor. It’s created when yeast, sugars and starches ferment, and has been part of the world’s diet for thousands of years.
When alcohol is consumed, it affects just about every body function. The central nervous system is depressed, the liver gradually metabolizes it, and the rest circulates in the body. How it will affect each individual is a matter of vital statistics; age, race, ethnicity, sex, weight, fitness levels, consumption speed, food intake, drug tolerance and family history.
The standard size for a drink is 0.6 ounces of pure alcohol, or the equivalent of 12-ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, eight ounces of malt liquor or a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor.