Alcoholic beverages provide calories and very little nutrients.

Drinking alcoholic beverages in excess is harmful - it clouds your judgment and can result in "dependency and a great many other serious health problems". Drinking in moderation is defined as "no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men". The differences in limits are based on both metabolism and body weight. Count as one drink--12 ounces of regular beer (150 calories), 5 ounces of wine (100 calories), and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (100 calories).

Consuming more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men can "increase the risk for motor vehicle crashes, other injuries, high blood pressure, stroke, violence, suicide, and certain types of cancer". An increased risk of breast cancer is associated with consuming even one alcoholic drink per day.

Consuming alcoholic beverages during pregnancy raises the risk of birth defects. Other problems with consuming too much alcohol include: cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatic inflammation, and brain and heart damage. Excess alcohol intake can also cause problems socially and psychologically. Also, there is a risk of malnutrition among heavy drinkers due to the alcohol's caloric content taking the place of calories from nutritious foods. If you do choose to drink alcohol, limit your intake and take with meals to slow down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

The guideline includes a benefit of drinking alcohol in moderation as the decreased risk of cardiovascular disease but mainly in men over age 45 and women over age 55. Moderate consumption offers little, if any, benefit for younger people.

Emphasis is placed on certain people who should not drink at all such as: children and adolescents, individuals of any age who are unable to restrict their drinking to moderate amounts, women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant, individuals who plan to drive, operate machinery, or engage in other activities that require attention, skill, or coordination, and individuals taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.