Blood alcohol content (BAC) levels refer to the measurement of how much alcohol an individual has consumed. Additionally, an individual’s BAC determines the side effects they will experience. Individuals with a higher tolerance for alcohol can drink more than those with a lower tolerance, leading to extremely high BAC levels.

The higher an individual’s blood alcohol content levels, they will experience the more severe side effects of alcohol abuse. While low BAC percentages produce effects that dissipate within a few hours, the effects of high BAC percentages may be long-lasting and life-threatening.

Let’s take a look at different blood alcohol content percentages and the effects they cause.

Drinking alcohol in excess can have a serious impact on the body’s organs. Let’s take a look at how each organ is affected by alcohol abuse.[2]

The short-term side effects of alcohol abuse are the symptoms that individuals notice while drinking (or shortly after drinking) alcohol.

The short-term side effects of alcohol consumption include:

• Feelings of drowsiness
• Mental and physical relaxation
• Euphoria
• Talkativeness
• Decreased inhibitions
• Impulsive behaviors and shifts in mood
• Slurred speech and odd speech patterns
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Head pain like headaches or migraines
• Changes in hearing, vision, and perception
• Decreased coordination skills
• Problems focusing or difficulty making decisions
• Loss of consciousness and memories (blackouts)

As mentioned, alcohol abuse and alcoholism can have serious and lasting health repercussions. When alcohol addiction becomes long-term, the effects of alcohol abuse begin to worsen.

The long term effects of alcohol abuse and alcoholism include:

• Frequent mood swings
• Insomnia
• Decreased functionality of the immune system
• Changes in libido and sexual function
• Shifts in appetite and weight
• Memory and concentration issues
• Inability to focus on tasks
• Increased tension in romantic, platonic, and familial relationships
• Damage to organs (could include organ failure, permanent damage, decreased functionality, and death).

Alcoholism often leads to an array of adverse psychosocial effects. This may include decision-making problems, conflict in interpersonal relationships, financial devastation, and drunk driving.

Common social side effects of alcoholism include:

• Isolating oneself from friends and family
• Changing social groups to be around other individuals who partake in alcohol abuse
• Frequent lying and deceitfulness
• Manipulating others to obtain and abuse alcohol
• Being unable to follow through with plans or responsibilities
• Conflict with friends, family, and coworkers leads to worsened social isolation
• Decreased performance in school, work, or activities not related to alcohol abuse

One of the most common and most damaging psychosocial effects of alcohol abuse is drunk driving. Most people who engage in drunk driving are binger drinkers and alcoholics, as their ability to make sound decisions has become severely impacted by long-term alcohol abuse.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 52 minutes.”[4]

In addition to the social effects of alcoholism, long-term alcohol abuse can have severe impacts on an individual’s psyche.

Some of the psychological side effects of alcohol include:

• Frequent and rapid mood swings, often including aggression and extreme sadness
• Increased irritability, anger, and violent behaviors
• Issues with memory, concentration, and attention
• Worsened anxiety and panic attacks
• Hallucinations or delusional thinking, especially during periods of withdrawal