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. Drinking excessively increases your risk of getting sick, injured, or dying sooner. You can choose not to drink alcohol, drink less, or drink in moderation to lower these risks, compared to drinking excessively. That glass of wine with dinner might do more for you than take the edge off a long day. Check out these possible health benefits of drinking in moderation by clicking through the WebMD slideshow. Drinking is the act of ingesting water or other liquids into the body through the mouth, proboscis, or elsewhere. Humans drink by swallowing, completed by peristalsis in the esophagus. The physiological processes of drinking vary widely among other animals. Alcohol misuse refers to drinking in a manner, situation, amount, or frequency that could cause harm to the person who drinks or to those around them. Alcohol misuse includes binge drinking and heavy alcohol use. 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. Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more. You can lower your health risks by drinking less or choosing not to drink. Your liver can only process small amounts of alcohol. The rest of the alcohol can harm your liver and other organs as it moves through the body.