Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
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The United States Department of Health and Human Services defines 1 serving of wine as the following:
According to the United States Dietary Guidelines, moderate drinking is defined as:
A glass of wine is considered a standard alcoholic beverage.
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend consuming no more than 1 glass per day (for women) and no more than 2 glasses per day (for men).
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol will decrease the risk of developing significant health problems.
However, drinking alcohol at levels above these guidelines increases the risk for injuries, as well as cancer and other serious illnesses.
One bottle of wine contains roughly 5 glasses. A single glass is considered a standard alcoholic beverage.
This means if you drink an entire bottle every day, you’re well above expert guidance for safe alcohol consumption.
Drinking a bottle of wine a day is considered excessive.
As such, it may increase your risk for alcohol use disorder. But, it doesn’t necessarily indicate alcohol abuse or a drinking problem. The frequency and amount of time it takes to drink the bottle of wine can indicate whether or not you have a drinking problem.
If you think you may have a drinking problem, you should consult a doctor.
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Excessive alcohol consumption (including binge drinking) poses significant health risks.
The short-term health risks of excessive alcohol consumption include:
In addition to these immediate health concerns, excessive alcohol consumption or heavy drinking over time can cause chronic diseases and other serious health problems.
The long-term health risks of excessive alcohol consumption include:
By avoiding excessive alcohol consumption, you can reduce these short- and long-term health risks.
Many studies suggest that drinking red wine may provide health benefits. Red wine contains antioxidants that are necessary for optimal cardiovascular function.
The antioxidants in red wine may also prevent various chronic diseases.
In one study, red wine consumption decreased blood pressure in those with hypertension.3 Another compared non-drinkers to moderate alcohol drinkers of red wine, finding this second group had a 51% lower risk of death from heart disease.3
Some studies have found improved health among moderate wine drinkers. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean these enhanced health benefits are due to wine consumption alone. Many nutritious foods and vegetables are richer sources of antioxidants than wine.
They may be caused by behaviors or genetics between people who drink moderately and those who don’t.
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Women generally face greater risks of drinking too much wine compared with men. They tend to have alcohol-related problems sooner and a lower blood alcohol level threshold for adverse health effects.
Women face these issues because they generally weigh less and have less water in their bodies than men. This leads them to metabolize alcohol more slowly.
On the other hand, men develop alcohol dependency at a much greater rate. About half of all men in America have alcohol-related problems of one form or another.
While men and women of the legal drinking age may be able to consume wine in moderation without issue, some people should abstain.
This includes:
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Health professionals use criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to assess whether, and to what extent, a person has AUD.
The following symptoms may indicate AUD:
Any of these symptoms may be a cause for concern. The more symptoms that are present, the more urgent the need for change.
If you experience two or more of these symptoms, go see a doctor. They can determine whether you have AUD or not.
Many people struggle with alcohol problems and addiction throughout their lives. In the United States alone, about 17 million adults have AUD.
Most people with alcohol addiction can benefit from treatment. About one-third of people who receive treatment for alcohol problems have no further symptoms one year later. Others successfully reduce their drinking and report fewer alcohol-related problems.
Treatment methods include:
There’s no universal solution for alcohol addiction, – what may work for some people doesn’t work for others. To find the best treatment for alcohol addiction, speak with an addiction specialist today.
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