Alcohol has some immediate or short-term physical effects on the body as a whole, including the brain, the gut and pancreas, the heart and circulation, sleep control and sexual functions. The most obvious and immediate effects of alcohol are on the brain. The effects of alcohol on the brain are felt within about five minutes of alcohol being swallowed. Alcohol slows down or blocks many of the brain’s functions. The initial effect might be a reduction in tension or inhibitions, making the drinker feel more relaxed or excited. However, as the intake of alcohol increases, these effects are counterbalanced by less pleasant effects, 

such as :

• Drowsiness 

• Loss of balance 

• Poor coordination 

• Slower reaction times (critical when driving or operating machinery) 

• Slurred speech 

• Slowed thought processes 

• Nausea and vomiting 

As more alcohol is consumed and the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises, performance and behaviour deteriorate progressively. The risk of accident, violence or injury increases rapidly with increasing blood alcohol levels. 

If the BAC reaches a high enough level, it can lead to life-threatening events such as : 

1. Unconsciousness. 

2. Inhibition of normal breathing may be fatal, particularly as the person may vomit and can suffocate if the vomit is inhaled. 

3. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain, which controls the body’s fluid balance, and can leave the person dehydrated and with a headache. 

4. The gut, by irritating the lining of the gut as the level of alcohol is increased, with diarrhoea as a possible outcome. 

5. The pancreas, which may become inflamed, sometimes chronically. This can cause severe pain and a highly unpleasant reaction to alcohol in the future. 

6. The heart and blood circulation, where one or two standard drinks can affect the heart rate, blood pressure, the contraction of heart muscle and its efficiency in pumping blood, and blood flow throughout the body; higher levels of alcohol may result in irregular heart rhythms, raised blood pressure, shortness of breath, and cardiac failure. result in irregular heart rhythms, raised blood pressure, shortness of breath, and cardiac failure. 

7. Disruption of sleep can be a trigger for a variety of mental health problems. 

8. Sexual functioning, particularly in men, who may find it more difficult to get an erection after drinking alcohol beyond low-risk levels. 

9. Alcohol can affect the level of risk of particular conditions or diseases, including: cancer; cirrhosis of the liver; heart disease and stroke; cognitive problems (including memory and reasoning); and dementia.