It’s fun to share a drink with friends. Alcohol is often paired with unwinding and celebration.

But, how much alcohol is too much?

Most people are okay with moderate drinking; one or two drinks per day. Don’t use this a weekly guideline to binge on Friday night. “I didn’t imbibe the rest of the week, so I can have ten cocktails tonight!” That’s not how it works.

Binge drinking is dangerous. It raises blood pressure, damages nerves, causes sexual dysfunction, harms the liver, and can lead to other consequences.

Signs You Might Have a Problem

• Consuming too many drinks in two hours (4 for women, 5 for men)
• Blackouts
• Turning up late to work or performing poorly
• Engaging in risky behavior
• Organizing activities around drinking all the time

Best behavior is to drink 12 ounces of water for every alcoholic drink you consume. If you drink when stressed, investigate other ways to reduce your stress. Alcohol should be a treat.

Listen as Dr. John Higgins joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to avoid drinking too much.