Though the primary focus of this site is drunk and drugged driving, the authors thought that the site would not be complete without quickly stating the dangers of prolonged heavy alcohol use.

Tolerance. When a person drinks heavily enough and often enough, the body tries to adapt to this. The body attempts to alter itself so that the alcohol is not so harmful and so that it is eliminated more quickly from the blood. Once a tolerance to alcohol has been built up, the same amounts of alcohol will produce lesser effects, and it will take more alcohol to produce the same effects. The liver adapts to the frequent presence of alcohol by metabolizing it more rapidly. Thus, tolerant drinkers are able to ingest more alcohol without reaching as high a BAC as intolerant drinkers. In addition, evidence shows that experienced drinkers may develop a different tolerance which allows their body to somehow cope with the behavioral effects of alcohol, and an experienced drinker with the same BAC as an inexperienced drinker would show less behavioral effect. Other factors also have the potential to slightly alter one's tolerance. Physical condition, fatigue, and stress all play a part in alcohol tolerance.

Dependence and Withdrawal. Alcohol is an addictive drug, and prolonged abuse of it can result in a chemical dependence, where the body is unable to function normally without the chemical present. This dependence is not usually noticeable unless the alcoholic stops or dramatically cuts down consumption. Within 8 to 12 hours of cessation of drinking, a withdrawal syndrome starts. Withdrawal syndromes are characterized by tremors, sweating, nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbances, and irritability, and can last for three to five days. In about two or three days after being cut off, the alcoholic may experience seizures or delirium tremens (DTs), which can be fatal.

Long-term effects on the liver. While alcohol is present in the liver, the breakdown of fats in the liver is stalled. The fat accumulates in liver cells, and grows into large clusters. These can rupture, or turn into cysts that replace healthy liver cells. After years of drinking heavily, scar tissue from ruptured cells builds up so much as to block normal bloodflow through the liver. This condition is known as cirrhosis, and can result in liver failure.

Long-term effects on the brain. Chronic drinking kills off brain cells. Over years, the brain can show physical signs of atrophy. In addition, heavy long-term drinking can alter brain structures and reduce blood supply to the brain.

Long-term alcohol abuse can also lead to many other dangerous conditions, including heart disease, cancer, malnutrition , premature aging , and dangerous birth defects for the unborn child of a drinking pregnant woman.

This is known as metabolic tolerance.

This is known as behavioral tolerance.

Chronic drinking can damage the digestive system, resulting in a difficulty processing nonalcoholic foods. This difficulty can lead to malnutrition as the nutrients in foods are left untouched.

Premature aging is a possible side effect of alcohol's tendency to rob the body of thiamine, a B vitamin critical to brain function.

When a pregnant woman ingests alcohol, it is distributed to all parts of her body, including the body of the baby developing in her uterus. Exposing the baby to any kind of alcohol in the delicate time of development can mean birth defects or a miscarriage. Alcohol related defects are known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).