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 Moderate Drinking:
Equal to or less than two drinks a day for men and equal to or less than one drink a day for women.
Heavy Drinking:
More than 14 drinks per week or 4 drinks at one sitting for men and more than seven drinks a week or three drinks at one sitting for women. (Drinking over this amount puts a person at risk for adverse health events.)
Hazardous Drinking:
Hazardous drinking is an average consumption of 21 drinks or more per week for men (or 7 or more drinks per occasion at least 3 times a week) and 14 or more drinks per week for women (or more than 5 drinks per occasion at least 3 times a week). Hazardous drinking is considered to place individuals at risk for adverse health events.
Alcohol Abuse:
One or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year: failure to fulfill work or personal obligations; recurrent use in potentially dangerous situations; problems with the law; and continued use in spite of harm being done to social or personal relationships.
Alcohol Dependence:
The individual experiences three or more of the following alcohol-related problems over a period of one year: increased amounts of alcohol needed to produce an effect; withdrawal symptoms or drinking alcohol to avoid these symptoms; drinking more over a given period than intended; unsuccessful attempts to quit or cut down; giving up significant leisure or work activities; continuing drinking in spite of the knowledge of its physical or psychological harm to oneself or others.
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