Bones and Muscles

Immediate effects of alcohol use

Alcohol use causes many different types of injuries, including injuries from road traffic accidents, assaults and falls.[9] This is usually because high levels of blood alcohol impair the brain’s thought processes and the coordination of muscles, causing clumsiness and difficulty walking.[22] Common injuries seen at the emergency department include cuts, bruises, sprains and broken bones.[57, 58] The risk of injury in the six hours after drinking doubles with four standard drinks and increases rapidly the more alcohol is drunk on a single occasion.[14]

Long-term effects of alcohol use

Moderate alcohol use may protect against osteoporosis (thinning of the bones, which makes the bones more likely to break).[59] However, chronic heavy alcohol use interferes with the absorption of calcium and bone formation and can actually lead to osteoporosis.[59, 60] Chronic heavy use is also associated with a painful condition where bone tissue dies (osteonecrosis),[61] gout (a type of arthritis or inflammation of the joints, often affecting the joint of the big toe),[30] muscle wasting and weakness.[4, 18]