• The amount of alcohol the person had.
• The person's age, gender, and weight.
• How often the person drinks.
• Whether the person has other medical conditions, such as diabetes, seizures, or a heart condition.

• Also took certain drugs or prescription medicines.
• Drinks a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time (binge drinks).
  • For women, binge drinking is having four or more drinks at one time.
  • For men, binge drinking is having five or more drinks at one time.

If you or anyone around you appears intoxicated, speak up and act.

What are the causes?

This condition is caused by drinking alcohol.

What increases the risk?

• Peer pressure in young adults.
• Difficulty managing stress.
• History of drug or alcohol abuse.
• Combining alcohol with drugs.
• Family history of drug or alcohol abuse.
• Low body weight.
• Binge drinking.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of alcohol intoxication can vary from person to person. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe.

• Feeling relaxed or sleepy.
• Having mild difficulty with coordination, speech, memory, or attention.

• Strong anger or extreme sadness.
• Moderate difficulty with coordination, speech, memory, or attention.

• Severe difficulty with coordination, speech, memory, or attention.
• Passing out.
• Vomiting.
• Confusion.
• Slow breathing.
• Coma.

Intoxication can change quickly from mild to severe. It can cause coma or death, especially in people who are not exposed to alcohol often.

How is this diagnosed?

• Your symptoms and medical history.
• A physical exam.
• A blood test that measures BAC.
• A smell of alcohol on your breath.

How is this treated?

• Being monitored in an emergency department, hospital, or treatment center until your BAC comes down and it is safe for you to go home.
• IV fluids to prevent or treat loss of fluid in the body (dehydration).
• Medicine to treat nausea or vomiting or to get rid of alcohol in the body.
• Counseling (brief intervention) about the dangers of using alcohol.
• Treatment for substance use disorder.
• Oxygen therapy or a breathing machine (ventilator).

Long-term (chronic) exposure to alcohol can have long-term effects on your brain, heart, and gastrointestinal system. These effects can be serious and may also require treatment.

Follow these instructions at home:

Eating and drinking

• Do not drink alcohol if:
  • Your health care provider tells you not to drink.
  • You are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant.
  • You are under the legal drinking age (21 years old in the U.S.).
  • You are taking medicines that should not be taken with alcohol.
  • You have a medical condition, and alcohol makes it worse.
  • You need to drive or perform activities that require you to be alert.
  • You have substance use disorder.
• Ask your health care provider if alcohol is safe for you. If your health care provider allows you to drink alcohol, limit how much you have. You may drink:
  • 0–1 drink a day for women.
  • 0–2 drinks a day for men.
    • Be aware of how much alcohol is in your drink. In the U.S., one drink equals one 12 oz bottle of beer (355 mL), one 5 oz glass of wine (148 mL), or one 1½ oz shot of hard liquor (44 mL).
• Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.
• Stay hydrated. Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow. Avoid caffeine because it can dehydrate you.
• Avoid drinking more than one drink per hour.
• When having multiple drinks, drink water or a non-alcoholic beverage between alcoholic drinks.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not drive after drinking any amount of alcohol. Plan for a designated driver or another way to go home.
• Have someone responsible stay with you while you are intoxicated. You should not be left alone.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You do not feel better after a few days.
• You have problems at work, at school, or at home due to drinking.

Get help right away if:

• You have any of the following:
  • Moderate to severe trouble with coordination, speech, memory, or attention.
  • Trouble staying awake.
  • Severe confusion.
  • A seizure.
  • Light-headedness.
  • Fainting.
  • Vomiting bright red blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
  • Bloody stool (feces). The blood may make your stool bright red, black, or tarry. It may also smell bad.
  • Shakiness when trying to stop drinking.
  • Thoughts about hurting yourself or others.

• Your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.).
• A suicide crisis helpline, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or 988 in the U.S. This is open 24 hours a day.

Summary

• Alcohol intoxication occurs when a person no longer thinks clearly or functions well after drinking alcohol.
• If your health care provider says that alcohol is safe for you, limit alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink a day for women (no drinks if you are pregnant) and 2 drinks a day for men. One drink equals 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1½ oz of hard liquor.
• Contact your health care provider if drinking has caused you problems at work, school, or home.
• Get help right away if you have thoughts about hurting yourself or others.