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If you're trying to cut back, decide how many days a week you want to drink and how many drinks you’ll have on those days. It’s a good idea to have some days when you don’t drink. Drinking within the limits below reduces the chances of having an alcohol use disorder and related health problems.

For healthy men up to age 65 —

no more than 4 drinks in a day AND

no more than 14 drinks in a week.

For healthy women up to age 65 (and healthy men over 65) —

no more than 3 drinks in a day AND

no more than 7 drinks in a week.

Depending on your health status, your doctor may advise you to drink less or abstain.

— National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

uch has been said and written about the many health problems associated with alcohol. Death also can result abruptly from alcohol abuse, usually connected to vehicle crashes or alcohol poisoning. These dangers make it critical that if you drink, you do it responsibly.

Alcohol affects different people in different ways. One individual may be affected more by one type of alcohol ("hard" liquor versus beer, for example) than another. Also, an individual's tolerance for liquor varies, depending upon his or her age, health status, medication interference and other factors. The latest estimate is that 12 percent to 14 percent of all regular drinkers go on to become heavy drinkers or alcoholics.

All of these factors can make it hard to determine just what is "responsible" drinking. In general, though, if you plan to drink, follow these guidelines:

Never use alcohol, even in small amounts, for at least four to five hours before you drive a car, a boat or other machinery. If you are responsible for the safety of others, this is especially vital. Remember, any amount of alcohol will affect your judgment and coordination.
If you choose to drink, stick to a moderate amount. Excessive alcohol, especially regular drinking binges, can damage your liver and other organs. Moderate drinking is best and is defined as no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks per day for men. Remember, though, that how much you can safely drink depends upon your age, gender, weight, general health and family heredity.
Abstain from alcohol on a regular basis. Even heavy drinkers should give their bodies at least one or two days a week without alcohol, in order for the liver to rest and recuperate.
Pregnant women should never drink alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol can seriously harm a growing fetus, resulting in brain damage, learning disabilities and other serious medical problems.
Anyone with a family history of alcoholism or alcohol abuse is advised to not drink at all. A genetic predisposition to alcoholism has been documented in many families.
Never use alcohol in combination with either prescription or over-the-counter medicine; their effect may be intensified. Antihistamines and sedatives are two examples of medicines that interact badly with alcohol. If enough drugs and alcohol are mixed, it can result in death

ccording to statistics, one out of every four Americans is the child of an alcoholic. And here's the legacy those alcoholic parent leave behind... (continued)