Stuff to Blog About and More: Alcohol and Health According to the CDC

The legal limit for drinking in the US is the alcohol level above which an individual is subject to legal penalties .

* Legal limits are measured using either a blood alcohol test or a breathalyzer.
* Legal limits are typically defined by state law, and may vary based on individual characteristics such as age and occupation.

All states in the United States have adopted 0.08% (80 mg/dL) as the legal limit for operating a motor vehicle for drivers aged 21 years or older. However, drivers under age 21 years are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system.

Recommended Drinking Limits
The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans (1) recommend that if you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, you do not exceed 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men.

People who should not drink alcoholic beverages at all;

* Children and adolescents.
* Individuals of any age who cannot restrict their drinking to moderate levels.
* Women who may become pregnant or who are pregnant.
* Individuals who plan to drive, operate machinery, or take part in other activities that requires attention, skill, or coordination.
* Individuals taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.
* Individuals with specific medical conditions.
* Persons recovering from alcoholism.

Heavy Drinking
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 2 drinks per day. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming an average of more than 1 drink per day.

Alcoholism
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level to 0.08% or above. This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to more than 4 drinks on a single occasion for men or more than 3 drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 hours (3).

Physical Effects of Excessive Drinking

* Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (damage to liver cells), pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), various cancers, including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (the voice box), and esophagus, high blood pressure, and psychological disorders.
* Unintentional injuries such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns and firearm injuries.
* Violence such as child maltreatment, homicide and suicide increase.
* Harm to a developing fetus if a woman drinks while pregnant.
* Alcohol abuse or dependence.

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.