For some people, alcohol is a regular or occasional drink enjoyed at social occasions that causes no apparent harm. However, even moderate alcohol use carries some risks, as alcohol causes breast cancer even at low doses, and can lead to addiction and dependence in any individual. Here are the moments that you should not drink by avoiding the impacts of alcohol on body.

It’s advisable not to drink if you:

• are child and young people under 18 years, at this stage the brain is still developing up and alcohol will negatively impact on memory and learning,
• are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, as alcohol can damage the developing fetus before a woman even knows she is pregnant,
  • Health Effect of Alcohol Consumption
  • Tips for reducing the risk associated with alcohol consumption.
• are on medication that interacts with alcohol,
• have a condition that could be made worse by drinking alcohol,
• feel unwell, depressed, tired or cold, as alcohol could make things worse
• are about to operate machinery or a vehicle.
• are empty in the stomach.

References

1. Mendiola, J., Torres-Cantero, A. M., & Agarwal, A. (2009). Lifestyle factors and male infertility: An evidence-based review. Archives of Medical Science, 5(1A), S3–S12.

2. Ministry of Health. (2010). Alcohol and pregnancy:A practical guide for health professionals.Wellington: Ministry of Health.

3. Baan, R., Straif, K., Grosse, Y., Secretan, B., Ghissassi, F. E., Bouvard, V., et al. (2007). Carcinogenicity of alcoholic beverages. The Lancet Oncology, 8(4), 292–293.

4. Molina, P. E., Happel, K. I., Zhang, P., Kolls, J. K., & Nelson, S. (2010). Focus on: Alcohol and the immune system. Alcohol Research & Health, 33 (1–2), 97–108

5. Fingerhood, M. I. (2007). Alcoholism and associated problems. In N. H. Fiebach, L. R. Barker, J. R. Burton & P. D. Zieve (Eds.), Principles of ambulatory medicine (7th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.