1^st: Quality

This refers to whether the alcohol being consumed is manufactured from the right materials. Remember

, alcohol is a chemical called ethanol, which is a by-product of fermented grains ,fruits or vegetables. Unfortunately, we have witnessed cases where toxic and poisonous chemicals such as methanol  are used to manufacture cheap spirits. These products are a health hazards to the user. Sometimes sudden losses of sight and untimely deaths, have occurred.

2^nd: Quantity

The amount of alcohol content in the drink, determines how fast you get intoxicated. This is the reason why there are specific guidelines as to how much alcohol is safe. The US Dietary Guidelines on alcohol specify that for women, 1 drink or less on a day is safe, while for men, 2 drinks or less in a day is considered safe drinking. The guidelines warns against heavy drinking .This is defined as taking more than 3 drinks daily or more than 7 drinks weekly for women and men older than 65 years. More than 4 drinks daily or more than 14 drinks a week for men aged 65 year and younger is considered heavy drinking. The alcohol content in the different alcoholic beverages; beer, wine and distilled spirits also differs. It is not the size of the drink that matters, but the alcohol content. A full glass of beer may contain the same alcohol content with a half glass of wine, while a quarter glass of wine may contain the same amount.

3^rd: Duration

This is an issue of how often and how much do you drink?. It is related to binge drinking, a habit that is quite damaging to your health, especially the liver. Binge drinking is when 4 or more drinks are taken within a span of 2 hours. Remember that more than 90% of the alcohol is eliminated by the liver. Therefore, by drinking too much, too fast, your liver is overworked. This is based on the fact that alcohol is absorbed into the blood stream at a faster rate than it is metabolized. Metabolism usually happens at a steady rate despite how much alcohol one drinks. One is advised to drink at a slow rate, in order to allow metabolism of prior drinks to take place.

4^th: Age

Definitely age is a critical factor in determining how alcohol affects our bodies. It is no wonder that the guidelines specify the safe amount of drinking as regards age differences. This is because, as we age, our body’s metabolism slows down.

5^th: Health status

When considering the questions on when not to take alcohol, your medical condition is a key consideration. In fact it is stressed that one should avoid alcohol when suffering from bipolar disorders, abnormal heart health, diabetes and high blood pressure, among others.

6^th: Genetic disposition

The experts have found that our genes play a role in determining the effects of alcohol on our brains; at least 60% of our behavior on consuming alcohol is based on our heredity. Alcohol affects everyone differently. It is important to be observant on how your family members behave when they take alcohol; person A and person B, can drink the same amount of alcohol; person A can get intoxicated faster than person B.It is all a matter of genetic disposition. It is no wonder that some families are more prone to alcoholism than others; “know thyself “.

7^th: Gender (sex)

This is a significant factor on effects of alcohol. The guidelines make it very clear that women should drink less than men; 1 drink or less for women daily and 2 drinks or less for men. This is based on the biological make-up of the different sex; On ingestion, alcohol is absorbed by water in our bodies; men have more water in their bodies while women have more fat.Therefore,the amount of water alcohol concentration is higher in women than in men. Women get intoxicated faster than men.