Health assessment of alcohol

In the chemical classification, alcohol is the name of a substance class, the best-known representative of which is drinking alcohol, chemically ethanol. Frequent consumption of alcohol can cause acute and chronic health problems and lead to dependency. In general, blood alcohol concentrations of one per mille or more can be expected to cause intoxication, two per mille or more severe clouding of consciousness, and over three per mille a deep, possibly fatal coma.

In adults, acute alcohol poisoning that is not life-threatening is characterized by symptoms that subside over time. In adolescents, alcohol poisoning can cause changes in the sex and growth hormone balance and adversely affect the development and function of the central nervous system. During pregnancy, alcohol poisoning poses a high risk to the unborn child.

Chronic alcohol abuse primarily damages the liver, nervous system, heart and circulatory system, leads to hormonal imbalances and reduces fertility. Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer. The organs most commonly affected are the mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus, liver, large intestine and female breasts.
A single instance of abuse is not relevant to the development of an addiction. However, regular moderate alcohol consumption over several weeks can lead to an addiction in those predisposed and under unfavorable psychosocial conditions.