Moderate Risk

My Result: Moderate Risk

Your result shows that you are not addicted to alcohol yet, but you might consider cutting back on your drinking habit. This is where your score puts you along with other Americans.

The USDA recommends that adult males/females should not drink more than 14/7 alcoholic beverages per week. Based on your test results, it seems that your drinking patterns are not an immediate, serious threat to your health; however, you should definitely consider cutting back on your alcohol intake.

How alcohol can turn your life into a nightmare:

Medical Issues — It’s an open secret that alcohol significantly increases the risk of countless diseases, especially liver diseases. According to the NIAAA fact sheet, drinking alcohol is responsible for at least 50% cases of liver failure in America every year. In addition, according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol increases the risk of cancers of breast, larynx, esophagus, and colon. It also makes you prone to medical issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, anemia, stroke, dementia, cirrhosis, pancreatitis, seizures, gout, infectious disease, nerve damage, and infertility.

Psychological Issues — In a study of patients hospitalized after an attempted suicide, it was found that alcoholics are 75 times more likely to be successful in ending their life as compared to non-alcoholics. Moreover, alcoholics are up to 20 times more likely to attempt a suicide as compared to others. Alcohol disrupts the normal functioning of human brain and predisposes the user to a number of psychological issues. According to NIAAA research, drinking alcohol increases the risk of depression, anxiety, insomnia, personality changes and mood disturbance.

Social Issues — Higher rates of unemployment, greater chances of divorce and other marital issues, social withdrawal and loss of productivity are some of the social issues you might face. Moreover, alcohol abuse is clearly linked to workplace absenteeism as well as higher rate of crime. Since alcohol impairs your judgment, it can lead to road accidents as well as unsafe sexual activities. In short, alcohol not impacts your or your family’s life only, but can also impact the whole society.

How to cut back on alcohol intake:

Here are some tips to help you keep your spirits high.

• Set goals. Set small, achievable and realistic goals.
• Find motivation. Get your motivation from your family and friends. Communicate with them and seek help when necessary.
• You are missing a lot in your life. Think about the things you are missing because of your drinking habit.
• Identify and avoid the “trigger events”. If being depressed, lonely or anything else is making you drink more than usual, identify that trigger. Try to preempt it.
• Celebrate your success. Once you have achieved a goal, celebrate your success and reward yourself!
• Get help. Talk to a therapist or doctor if you’re having trouble reducing your alcohol intake and need help. There is nothing to be ashamed of in doing that.

Our Recommendations

It seems like your drinking pattern is not an immediate threat to your health. But, it can be harmful if you keep drinking at this rate.

Here’s what you should consider doing:

• Educate yourself. Educate yourself about drinking and its potential health hazards. Here is a great resource for you to get started.
• Keep a track of your drinks. Men should not drink more than two standard alcoholic drinks per day while women shouldn’t drink more than one. Here is what a standard beverage looks like::
  o Regular beer (12 ounces).
  o Table wine (5 ounces).
  o 80-proof Distilled spirits (1.5 ounces).
  o Malt liquor (8-9 ounces)
• Drink small. At home or outside, always drink in smaller glasses. That is a smart way of cutting down your daily alcohol intake.
• Drink only after dinner. Drink one or two beers or a glass of wine only after dinner, instead of allocating your whole evening to drinking. Think of it as a way of rewarding yourself after a hard day at work!
• Space your drinks. While out with your pushy friends, keep a track of your drinks. Having a snack between the drinks and alternating drinks with plain water or soda can help you cut down significantly.
• Get social. Talk to your family and friends about you trying to give up alcohol. Tell them that you know how important it is for you. This will boost your confidence.

Page Sources

1. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/dietary_guidelines_for_americans/PolicyDoc.pdf
2. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
3. https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm
4. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm
5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12032973?dopt=Abstract
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10225498?dopt=Abstract