Wine or Whiskey, Every Peg Takes a Shot at Your Health

AVI, a 42-year-old marketing executive, had always believed a peg or two after work was harmless. But when he collapsed with severe stomach pain and fatigue, doctors found his liver was already showing signs of serious damage.

- RISHITA KHANNA @Bengaluru

Years of what he thought was "moderate drinking" had silently harmed his body. Experts point out that alcohol directly damages cells and raises the risk of cancer and that even a single drink can weaken immunity, disrupt sleep, and impair brain function over time.

Is alcohol dangerous?

Alcohol is a toxic substance that affects nearly every organ in the body, increasing the risk of fatal diseases. The primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, which is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body, interfering with vital functions. One of its most harmful effects comes from its conversion into acetaldehyde, a highly toxic and carcinogenic compound that damages DNA and proteins, leading to cell mutations that increase the risk of at least seven types of cancer, including liver, breast, esophageal, and colorectal cancer.

According to a statement published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022, "when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health." It goes on to say that currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol "switch on" and start to manifest in the human body.