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 information on Alcohol Consumption risks and/or Alcohol Use Disorder, please visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's (NIAAA) website at www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption.

If you or a family member is experiencing a mental health or an alcohol or other drug-related emergency, seek immediate assistance by calling the 24-hour Suicide Prevention, Mental Health/Addiction Crisis, Information and Referral Hotline: (216) 623-6888 or United Way 2-1-1.