What is a Safe Level of Drinking?

For most adults, moderate alcohol use--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people--causes few if any problems. One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

However, for a range of circumstances, certain people should not drink at all:

• Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant;

• People who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery);

• People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications;

• People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking;

• Recovering alcoholics;

• People younger than age 21.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

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