The degree to which alcohol affects an individual varies significantly and is influenced by multiple physiological and behavioral factors:

• Timing between drinks: Drinking multiple drinks in a short time overwhelms the body’s ability to process alcohol, raising BAC quickly.
• Your tolerance level: Some people may not feel effects as strongly due to repeated exposure, which can increase risk by masking signs of intoxication.
• Food and water intake: Eating before or while drinking slows alcohol absorption. Staying hydrated supports your body’s ability to process alcohol.
• Other substances in the body: Some prescription or over-the-counter medications, hormones, and other drugs can interact with alcohol, intensifying its effects.
• Body size, weight, and composition: Alcohol disperses differently depending on your body’s proportions of water, fat, and muscle. This affects how quickly or intensely you feel the effects.

Understanding the reasons people choose to drink alcohol can help us reflect on our own choices and better support those around us. People may drink for a variety of reasons, including:

• Social Connection: To feel more comfortable at social gatherings or to bond with others who are drinking.
• Stress Relief or Coping: To temporarily escape academic, social, or emotional stress—though alcohol is not an effective long-term coping tool.
• Curiosity and Exploration: To experiment, especially when first gaining independence or entering college life.
• Peer Influence or Pressure: Feeling like everyone is doing it or not wanting to feel left out.
• Ritual or Celebration: Associating alcohol with specific events like birthdays, formals, or holidays.
• To Feel More Confident or Relaxed: To lower inhibitions or feel less anxious in certain situations.

While these motivations are common, they don't always lead to the outcomes people hope for. Alcohol affects everyone differently, and drinking to cope with stress or fit in can increase the risk of negative consequences over time.

Tolerance refers to a reduction in the effects of alcohol (or other drugs) over the course of repeated use. So, someone developing tolerance to alcohol must drink more to feel the same effect that had been achieved with fewer drinks.

Tolerance can be a warning sign for alcoholism. If a person can drink large amounts of alcohol and not feel the effects, they are at risk for becoming dependent on alcohol. Most people will look at the BAC chart and find that they feel the effects that are described at that blood alcohol concentration. If you don't feel those effects until much higher amounts of alcohol, you are developing tolerance.

The body's organs do not develop tolerance. They are damaged by the alcohol no matter how well a person can function. Tolerance does not protect you from lethal amounts of alcohol. Even if someone feels that he can "hold his liquor," he is still at risk for alcohol poisoning.

Tolerance is a complex physiological process, and the research literature defines several different types of tolerance, including acute tolerance, environment-dependent tolerance and learned tolerance. For an in-depth discussion, go to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism and search the site for research on tolerance.

Alcohol can affect your judgment, coordination, and decision-making, often before you even realize it. What may start out as a fun night can quickly shift into situations you didn’t expect or want.

Some short-term effects and risks include:

• Embarrassment or regret over things said or done while intoxicated
• Physical harm from falls, accidents, or fights
• Blackouts or memory loss, even after what feels like a small amount of alcohol
• Throwing up, hangovers, or alcohol poisoning
• Difficulty concentrating, which can affect academic performance
• Increased vulnerability to risky situations—including ones that involve others not respecting your boundaries

Alcohol enters your bloodstream quickly, and effects can begin within minutes. These may include:

• Slurred speech
• Confusion or poor concentration
• Reduced coordination
• Memory loss or blackouts
• Slowed breathing or coma (in severe cases)

Factors like how much and how quickly you drink, whether you’ve eaten, and your body’s size and chemistry can all impact how alcohol affects you. Eating before drinking can reduce how quickly alcohol is absorbed.

Knowing the short-term risks can help you make safer choices for yourself and your community.

While short-term effects of alcohol may fade quickly, heavy or frequent use over time can have lasting impacts on your health and wellbeing. Long-term risks include:

• Liver damage, including fatty liver, hepatitis, or cirrhosis
• Increased risk of certain cancers (e.g., breast, liver, throat)
• Heart problems, such as high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat
• Mental health effects, including increased symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Memory issues and difficulty with learning or attention
• Dependency or addiction, particularly with repeated heavy use

Making informed decisions about alcohol now can help protect your long-term health.

While not drinking is the safest option, if you choose to drink, these strategies can reduce your risk of harm:

• Pace and space: aim for no more than one standard drink per hour and alternate with water.
• Include food: Eat before and during drinking to slow alcohol absorption.
• Set a limit before you go out and stick to it.
• Keep track: count your drinks or use your phone as a reminder
• Avoid mixing alcohol with other substances, including medications or cannabis.
• Practice your “no”: You can always opt out of drinking.