If you decide to drink alcohol, it is best to do so in moderation. The American Heart Association defines moderate alcohol use as one alcohol serving per day for women and up to two alcohol servings per day for men.
| One serving of alcohol is equal to: |
|---|
| A 12-ounce beer |
| A 4-ounce glass of wine |
| 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor |
| 1 ounce of hard liquor (100-proof) |
Higher amounts of alcohol can increase your blood pressure and contribute to irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, liver disease, and other health conditions.
Do NOT drink and drive.
Avoid binge drinking which can cause harm to you or others. Examples can be coma, black-outs, abnormal heart beats, or injury.
If you regularly drink large amounts of alcohol, do not suddenly stop drinking alcohol, as this may raise your risk for seizures and/or other dangerous health conditions. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn how to safely cut down or quit alcohol use.
Additional resources to help you decrease or quit alcohol use can be found here.
