What Are Safe Drinking Levels?
Moderate levels of alcohol consumption can have health benefits. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), men can safely consume 2 drinks per day and women can safely have a single drink per day. Drinking at this level produces very few negative health consequences, but chronically exceeding these guidelines can lead to a host of serious or fatal medical conditions. Pregnant women should not consume any alcohol. Men who consume 5 or more drinks within about 2 hours, or women who consume 4 or more drinks within that same timeframe, are binge drinking. Binge drinking increases the risks of trauma, assaults, legal difficulties and some acute health conditions. A drink equals a single bottle or can of normal strength beer, 1.5 ounces of 40% alcohol liquor or a 5 ounce glass of normal strength wine.