What Happens When You Drink Alcohol Every Day?

Alcohol is all around us, just about everywhere. Drinking is ingrained in popular culture, whether it’s part of a celebration, holiday gathering, meal, or a glass of wine or a beer at home after work. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 80% of Americans 12 and older have had alcohol at some point in their lives, and close to half of people in this age group drank in the past month. But what happens when you drink alcohol every day? It’s an important question considering that more than 20% of people 12 and older in the U.S. reported binge drinking in the past month — and some sources have estimated close to 10% of people were drinking every single day by 2021.

While some research has found evidence of the health benefits of having an occasional drink, such as one glass of wine a day, there’s no denying the mountain of evidence pointing to drastic and devastating impacts on our physical and mental health when heavy drinking becomes a regular or daily activity. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, drinking too much can cause widespread problems with just about all parts of the body, including:

• Brain: Alcohol is a depressant that impacts how the brain communicates, works, and looks, and this can change the drinker’s mood, behavior, cognitive abilities, and coordination.
• Heart: Heart damage, such as stretching of heart muscle, irregular heartbeat, strokes, and high blood pressure, can be caused by long periods of heavy drinking.
• Pancreas: Drinking prompts this organ to produce toxins that can cause pancreatitis and affect how well the pancreas can make enzymes and hormones for digestion.
• Liver: Fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis can all be caused by heavy drinking, eventually leading to liver failure.

Drinking also greatly increases the risks of developing many types of cancer, and it weakens our immune systems, making us more susceptible to catching diseases like pneumonia or tuberculosis. Because of all these risks, it’s important to know what to do if you identify the common signs of alcoholism in yourself or a loved one. Let’s explore the impact of daily drinking and how alcohol detox and rehab at a top facility like WhiteSands Treatment can help.

Is It Normal to Drink Alcohol Every Night?

If you’re wondering what happens when you drink alcohol every day, the answer is complicated and will vary for each person. This is because of the several factors at play here, including the person’s overall health, age, genetics, and family history. A major variable is the amount of alcohol that is consumed every night. For example, someone who doesn’t drink all week but then has seven drinks in a single night is much more likely to suffer health effects and potential alcohol addiction than another person who has a single glass of wine with dinner each night. Consider, too, that some people who might be considered so-called high-functioning alcoholics may keep up with their work duties and be successful in their careers, but they still can suffer from health problems and mental health struggles because of their addiction to alcohol and daily use of the substance. The health risks will be minimized for those who can have a single glass of wine or one beer with dinner each evening and leave it at that. However, there is no such thing as a “normal” amount or frequency when it comes to drinking — alcohol may be widely used and available, but it is still a drug.

What Does 40 Years of Drinking Do to Your Body?

The effect of years or decades of drinking will depend on how much alcohol was consumed at a time and how frequently the person drank. However, some drastic physical consequences are likely after 40 years of heavy drinking, including:

• Liver Disease: The liver is directly affected by alcohol, and years or decades of damage can lead to serious liver disease or even complete liver failure.
• Cancer: Certain types of cancer, including cancer of the liver, stomach, and mouth, become much more likely among heavy drinkers.
• Brain Disease: Several types of alcohol-related brain damage are possible after long periods of heavy drinking, including alcoholic dementia.
• Cardiovascular Problems: Drinking increases blood pressure and cholesterol, and that can make drinkers more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes.
• Osteoporosis: Alcohol can affect how our bodies absorb calcium, leading to bone problems.
• Pancreas Damage: The toxins produced by the pancreas in response to drinking can lead to inflammation and pain and even affect how well the pancreas can produce the enzymes we need for digestion.

How Much Alcohol Is Safe to Drink Daily?

If you’re still wondering what happens when you drink alcohol every day, you might be curious about the safe amount of alcohol for daily drinking. However, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. There have been instances in recent decades of widely reported research suggesting some health benefits of drinking one glass of wine each day, such as lower risk of heart disease. However, the Mayo Clinic says further studies have suggested that isn’t really true — and research overall shows that any amount of drinking poses health risks, no matter how little or infrequent.

Take moderate alcohol use, for example, which is when a woman drinks only one drink, and men limit themselves to two drinks when they do drink. Even in that instance, because alcohol is potentially addictive and can cause inebriation or preventable deaths, the risk of health problems is low — but not zero. The Mayo Clinic says any amount of drinking raises the risk of developing breast cancer or colorectal cancer. Drinking is also consuming empty calories, which can cause drinkers to gain weight and have digestive problems.

The science is crystal-clear about the dangers of heavy drinking or binge drinking, which greatly increases the risks of certain cancers, liver disease, cardiovascular problems, and brain damage, in addition to fueling or compounding mental health struggles.

Is Life Better Without Alcohol?

While alcohol might seem to be everywhere around us, there’s no denying that drinking in any amount can put us at risk of major physical and mental health conditions — and that’s why life is most definitely better without alcohol, especially for those who are currently struggling with alcohol addiction. It might seem impossibly hard to quit drinking after years or decades of heavy alcohol consumption, but the truth is that it’s always possible. It’s also worth the effort because quitting drinking now can help you or your loved one feel better, emotionally and physically, and regain control of a better life in recovery.

Don’t Drink Alcohol Every Day – Get Help with Addiction from WhiteSands

Now that you know what happens when you drink alcohol every day, remember that it doesn’t always have to be this way. At WhiteSands Treatment’s network of alcohol rehab facilities across Florida, we have a team of experienced and compassionate professionals who know what it takes to put the bottle down and get on the road to a brighter future. We offer a comprehensive range of addiction treatment programs, including medical detox to help you safely and more comfortably get through alcohol withdrawal before starting inpatient or outpatient alcohol addiction treatment. We’ll be with you every step of the way, and we know that you can make it to the other side of addiction: A chance to thrive in your new life of recovery. Get started today by calling WhiteSands Treatment at 877-855-3470.

External Sources

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol Use in the United States: Age Groups and Demographic Characteristics
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism — Alcohol’s Effects on the Body
• Mayo Clinic — Alcohol Use: Weighing Risks and Benefits

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.