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How do you know someone has problems with alcohol?
Have you ever thought of lowering your alcohol consumption? Has someone ever critizied you for using alcoholic beverages? Have you ever felt bad or guilty for drinking? Have you ever woken up in the morning and your first thought was to drink to feel better? If you answered yes to one of these questions, this may indicate that you have problems with alcohol. More than one affirmative answer indicates a great possibility of having problems with alcohol.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa65/AA65.htm
Should we stop drinking alcoholic beverages while taking medication?
Yes, when we are using medication, alcohol abuse should be avoided. One single dose of alcohol may inhibit the metabolization of certain medications prolonging its effects in the body, or yet, the long-term use of alcohol may lower the effects of the medication by activating enzimes that metabolize the drug.

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa27.htm
Is it safe to drink during pregnancy?
Alcohlic beverages should be avoided during prenancy. During pregnancy, alcohol crosses the mother’s placenta and may bring inumerous problems to the baby, such as hiperacticity, attention defficits, learning and memory problems. The most serious consequences related to alcohol consumption during pregnancy is Fetal AlcoholSyndrome (FAS). Consult the section “Alcohol and Pregnancy” for further information.

Source: Australian Drug Foundation (ADF)
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcohol#effects%20of%20alcohol
Are there studies on the number of victims (including fatal victims) of car accidents due to alcohol use?
Of all car accidents in the United States in 2002 involving alcohol use, 4% resulted in death and 42% in serious injuries. A review of all autopsies performed in 1999 in casualties as a result of car accidents (São Paulo Institute of Legal Medicine) shows that approximately 50% of such death are related to alcohol use. For further information, consult the section "Alcohol and Traffic".
Is alcoholism hereditary?
A genetic heritage may partially explain certain people’s vulnerability to alcohol dependency, but other factors have also shown to be related to it. Some examples are: life style, environmental influences, presence of stressful events and capacity to face problems or difficulties.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO) - Neuroscience of Psychoactive Substance Use
and Dependence, 2004
What is alcoholism?
Alcoholism is a cronic disease comprising the following symptoms: uncontrolable desire to drink, loss of control (unability to stop after starting), physical dependency (phisical symptoms such as sweating, shaking and anxiety during alcohol withdrawal) and tolerance (with time the person needs larger doses of alcohol). Consult the section "Alcohol Effects" for further information.

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/terminology/who_lexicon/en/
What are the effects of alcohol in the body?
Alcohol is a depressant to the Main Nervous System and acts directly on different organs, such as the liver, heart, vessels and stomach wall. The effects of alcohol in the brain may be perceived as the follwowing: right after alcohol intake stimulant effects may occur such as extreme happiness, boastfulness and gabbing (the person becomes more articulate). With time, the depressing effects begin to take place. For further information, consult the section "Alcohol Effects".

Source: Australian Drug Foundation (ADF)
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=alcohol#effects%20of%20alcohol
CISA - CENTER FOR INFORMATION ON HEALTH AND ALCOHOL
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