Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior and make it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. Drinking alcohol can also increase the risk of stroke. Using alcohol excessively on occasion or over time can have immediate and long-term health risks. By drinking less alcohol, you can improve your health and well-being. Many Americans drink alcohol at least occasionally. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say that adults of legal drinking age should either not drink or drink in moderation. Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. Also, there are some people who should not drink at all. An alcohol is an organic compound with one or more hydroxyl groups attached to a carbon atom of an alkyl group. Alcohols may be considered as organic derivatives of water, in which a hydrogen atom has been replaced by an alkyl group. Examples include ethanol, methanol, and isopropyl alcohol. Read on to get the details on how alcohol can affect your body, brain, and emotional health, plus a few tips on finding support if you’re considering cutting back on drinking. Alcohol is a depressant, a class of psychoactive drug that slows down activity in the central nervous system. In low doses it causes euphoria, reduces anxiety, and increases sociability. In higher doses, it causes drunkenness, stupor, unconsciousness, or death (an overdose). The effects of alcohol can be seen throughout your body, even for moderate drinkers. Alcohol affects your liver, metabolism, brain and more. Excessive use of alcohol can lead to alcoholism, or alcohol dependence. There are four cardinal symptoms in alcoholism: craving, loss of control, physical dependence, and tolerance. Alcohol is a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties. In many of today’s societies, alcoholic beverages are a routine part of the social landscape for many in the population. Alcohol (drug) - Wikipedia. Jump to content. Main menu. move to sidebarhide. Navigation. Main page. Contents. Current events. Random article. About Wikipedia. Contact us. Contribute. Help. Learn to edit. Community portal. Recent changes. Upload file. Special pages. Search. Appearance. Donate. Create account. Log in. Personal tools. Donate.