Alcohol is a drug, a depressant, which slows down thinking and actions. It acts on the brain and affects all parts of the body. An average-size person's liver can break down about one drink per hour; the rest of the alcohol circulates throughout the body, affecting behavior, judgment, perception, and motor skills - such as driving and operating machinery.

Additional Information

Information on this page is from the NIAAA. For more facts and statistics about alcohol's effects on health, please visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA) website at https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohol-topics/alcohol-facts-and-statistics.

If you or a family member is experiencing a mental health or an alcohol or other drug-related emergency, seek immediate assistance 24/7 from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline via phone, text or chat.