01

Moderation is key

A glass of wine or a pint of beer can easily become two. But not if you have the discipline to stay within the recommended limit of alcohol intake a day. Health experts suggest just one standard drink a day for women, and two standard drinks a day for men. Here’s an idea of how many standard drinks your favourite tipple is equivalent to:

02

Slow down

Sip your drink, savour it. Taste the flavours, and feel the sensations that the alcohol creates within you. Great brewers put plenty of time and effort into perfecting their alcoholic beverages. The least you could do is appreciate their craft, enjoy a glass and make it last.

03

Be aware of the dangers

Drinking too much alcohol too fast is a sure-fire way to harm your internal organs. The liver toils to break down alcohol and eliminate it from your body. However, too much alcohol can cause the liver to overwork as it tries to remove excess toxins, which can lead to liver dysfunction, and ultimately, liver damage.

When it comes to liver damage, there are various stages of severity. Fatty liver is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease, caused by an accumulation of fat deposits in liver cells. Even though the symptoms may not be visible in occasional tipplers, chronic drinkers run a high risk of suffering from fatty liver.

On the other end of the spectrum is liver cirrhosis, a condition caused by severe scarring of the liver. The symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, and in worst cases, liver failure. If you experience any of the symptoms, see a doctor who can conduct a test on your liver.