Alcohol use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of symptoms you experience. Signs and symptoms may include:  Being unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink Wanting to cut down on how much you drink or making unsuccessful attempts to do so Spending a lot of time drinking, getting alcohol or recovering from alcohol use Feeling a strong craving or urge to drink alcohol Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol use Continuing to drink alcohol even though you know it's causing physical, social, work or relationship problems Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies to use alcohol Using alcohol in situations where it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming Developing a tolerance to alcohol so you need more to feel its effect or you have a reduced effect from the same amount Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink, or drinking to avoid these symptoms  Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal.  Alcohol intoxication results as the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream increases. The higher the blood alcohol concentration is, the more likely you are to have bad effects. Alcohol intoxication causes behavior problems and mental changes. These may include inappropriate behavior, unstable moods, poor judgment, slurred speech, problems with attention or memory, and poor coordination. You can also have periods called "blackouts," where you don't remember events. Very high blood alcohol levels can lead to coma, permanent brain damage or even death. Alcohol withdrawal can occur when alcohol use has been heavy and prolonged and is then stopped or greatly reduced. It can occur within several hours to 4 to 5 days later. Signs and symptoms include sweating, rapid heartbeat, hand tremors, problems sleeping, nausea and vomiting, hallucinations, restlessness and agitation, anxiety, and occasionally seizures. Symptoms can be severe enough to impair your ability to function at work or in social situations.  What is considered 1 drink? The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines one standard drink as any one of these:  12 ounces (355 milliliters) of regular beer (about 5% alcohol) 8 to 9 ounces (237 to 266 milliliters) of malt liquor (about 7% alcohol) 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine (about 12% alcohol) 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of hard liquor or distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol) 
alcohol disorder can mild  moderate severe  based number symptoms experience  signs symptoms may include:  being unable limit amount alcohol drink wanting cut down drink making unsuccessful attempts spending time drinking  alcohol recovering alcohol feeling strong craving urge drink alcohol fulfill major obligations work  school home due repeated alcohol continuing drink alcohol know it's causing physical  social  work relationship problems giving reducing social work activities hobbies alcohol using alcohol situations it's safe  driving swimming developing tolerance alcohol need feel effect reduced effect amount experiencing withdrawal symptoms — nausea  sweating shaking — don't drink  drinking avoid symptoms  alcohol disorder can include periods being drunk (alcohol intoxication) symptoms withdrawal   alcohol intoxication results amount alcohol bloodstream increases  higher blood alcohol concentration is  likely bad effects  alcohol intoxication causes behavior problems mental changes  may include inappropriate behavior  unstable moods  poor judgment  slurred speech  problems attention memory  poor coordination  can periods called "blackouts " don't remember events  high blood alcohol levels can lead coma  permanent brain damage death  alcohol withdrawal can occur alcohol heavy prolonged greatly reduced  can occur hours 4 5 days later  signs symptoms include sweating  rapid heartbeat  hand tremors  problems sleeping  nausea vomiting  hallucinations  restlessness agitation  anxiety  occasionally seizures  symptoms can severe impair ability function work social situations   considered 1 drink? national institute alcohol abuse alcoholism defines standard drink these:  12 ounces (355 milliliters) regular beer (about 5% alcohol) 8 9 ounces (237 266 milliliters) malt liquor (about 7% alcohol) 5 ounces (148 milliliters) wine (about 12% alcohol) 1 5 ounces (44 milliliters) hard liquor distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol) 
alcohol use disorder