What's one drink? One drink is defined as:* - 12 ounces (one
bottle/can) of beer or wine cooler - 5 ounces (one glass) of
wine - 1.5 ounces (one shot) of 80-proof distilled spirits
Alcohol and the Brain Most of us have witnessed the outward
signs of heavy drinking: the stumbling walk, slurred words and
memory lapses. People who have been drinking have trouble with
their balance, judgment and coordination. They react slowly to
stimuli, which is why drinking before driving is so dangerous.
All of these physical signs occur because of the way alcohol
affects the brain and central nervous system. Alcohol affects
brain chemistry by altering levels of neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit the
signals throughout the body that control thought processes,
behavior and emotion. Neurotransmitters are either excitatory,
meaning that they stimulate brain electrical activity, or
inhibitory, meaning that they decrease brain electrical
activity. Alcohol increases the effects of the inhibit