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If you need alcohol treatment while practicing physical distancing, there are several professionally led treatment and mutual-support group options available to you.

Home How much is too much What's your pattern? What are the different drinking levels?

What are the different drinking levels?

The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans defines moderate drinking as up to 1 drink per day for women of legal drinking age and up to 2 drinks per day for men of legal drinking age.

When is moderate drinking still too much?

It's safest to avoid alcohol altogether if you are:

  • Taking medications that interact with alcohol
  • Managing a medical condition that can be made worse by drinking
  • Underage
  • Planning to drive a vehicle or operate machinery
  • Participating in activities that require skill, coordination, and alertness
  • Recovering from alcohol use disorder or unable to control the amount they drink
  • Pregnant or trying to become pregnant

What are binge and heavy drinking?

Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours.

Heavy alcohol use is defined as more than 4 drinks on any day for men or more than 3 drinks for women.

Drinking excessively, which includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use, increases your risk of harmful consequences, including AUD. The more drinks on any day and the more heavy drinking over time, the greater the risk.