Consequences of Drinking Too Much Beer

A glass of beer on occasion is not likely to harm your health, but drinking too much can cause short-term and long-term consequences. Keeping your intake moderate allows you to enjoy beer without putting yourself or others in danger. If you feel you have a drinking problem and consistently drink too much beer, contact your doctor who can assist you in finding help.

Drunkeness

The most obvious result of drinking too much beer is that you are likely to become drunk. When this happens, you are more likely to make poor judgment calls, your vision and speech are negatively effected, your impulses slow and you may experience disturbed balance. These issues can cause you to fall down, engage in illegal behavior or have unprotected sex, all of which can result in injury, health complications and even jail.

Car Accidents

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Getting behind the wheel of a car after a few too many beers puts you and the other drivers and passengers on the road at risk of injury or death. Taking a ride from someone else who is also drunk poses the same dangers. Every minute a person is injured in a drunken driving accident and each year an average of 10,839 people die in a car accident where one of the drivers was under the influence, reports Mothers Against Drunk Driving. If you have had too many beers, call a taxi, a family member or a friend who can get you home safely.

Liver Problems

The liver eliminates toxins, including alcohol, from your system. Drinking large amounts of beer over the course of several months or years can damage your liver, making it harder for it to do its job. Cirrhosis of the liver may start out as fatty liver disease, where fat deposits in the liver, but continuing to drink can make the problem progress. Alcoholic hepatitis refers to the destruction of liver cells with excessive beer, or other alcohol consumption and can occur with prolonged drinking. Once your liver cells are damaged, no matter the cause, your liver regenerates in an abnormal pattern and can eventually stop working. People experience liver damage at different rates and some people can drink heavily for a long time before they notice a problem, while others will see symptoms sooner and with less beer consumption.

Hangover

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Drinking too much alcohol, including beer, can result in a hangover the next morning. The condition can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging in severity. Among them are headache, vomiting, fatigue, light sensitivity, dizziness, shakiness and difficulty concentrating. Most hangovers go away on their own, but some can produce seizures, slowed breathing, reduced body temperature or unconsciousness. Having a hangover can also cause problems with your memory and perception, which can cause problems at work or school and may even result in an injury.