These include distorted vision, hearing and coordination, altered perception and emotions, impaired judgement, bad breath, and hangovers.

They include loss of appetite, vitamin deficiencies, stomach problems, skin problems, sexual impotence, liver damage, heart and central nervous system damage, and memory loss.

The symptoms of withdrawal include jumpiness, irritability, sleeplessness, sweating, poor appetite, tremors or shakes, convulsions, hallucinations, and even death.

A hangover occurs when a person drinks heavily over a short period of time usually resulting in a headache, nausea, shakiness, and vomiting. This can occur from 8 to 12 hours later. It is partly due to poisoning by alcohol and other components of the drink and partly due to the body's reaction to the withdrawal of alcohol.

The factors involved are: the amount of alcohol consumed in a given time, the drinker's size, sex, body build, and metabolism. The type and amount of food in the stomach follow these.