There are grave short term and long term health risks for individuals who have consumed alcohol. Basically, those who consume alcohol, who start of as so called "social drinkers" result in short term and long term damages.

Long term effects of consuming alcohol:

• Nervous System: Tingling and loss of sensation in hands and feet.
• Muscles: Weakness and loss of muscle tissue.
• Lungs: Greater chance of chest infections.
• Liver: Liver damage including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and increased risk of liver cancer.
• Pancreas: Pancreatitis.
• Sexual Organs:
  • Males: Impotence and decreased sperm count.
  • Females: Irregular periods, reproductive problems, pregnancy and birth problems.
• Brain: Brain cell damage, loss of memory, confusion, disturbed sleep pattern.
• Breasts: Increased risk of breast cancer.
• Heart: High blood pressure and enlarged heart.
• Skin: Red nose and cheeks, increased perspiration.
• Stomach: Inflammation, bleeding, and ulcers.
• Intestines: Inflamed lining and ulcers.
• Blood: Changes in red blood cells.
• Hands and Feet: "Pins and Needles" and loss of sensation.
   

Individual's who consume alcohol at any rate, lose there senses, moralities, families, health, licenses, and there jobs as a result. The grave results of consuming alcohol are unlimited destroying the lives of millions. Statistically "Alcohol is involved in 50% of all driving fatalities."

Those who consume alcohol and who are heavy alcoholics start off as so called "social drinkers", however the one who is a "social drinker" today will end up as an alcoholic tomorrow. The body adapts to the consummation of alcohol, and as a result reaches a point where one could go crazy if he does not take a drink.

When an individual is in his senses, he cares for each and every small thing. He ensures that he is well respected in society, and that his right are all protected. He ensures that he makes the right decisions in all aspects of his life.

Once this person is in the bar, the bartender respects the individual as long as that person has money to pay. As soon as that person had drunk too much and as a result runs out of money, the bouncer kicks that individual out as though he is a worthless dog.  The bouncer throws this individual on the street regardless what the weather condition is. Regardless, if it is snowing or raining, the bouncer throws this person out of the bar on the streets.

The individual begs them for more alcohol, like a dog, and at many times commits indecent and despicable acts as a result.

Taxi drivers love these drunk people, who would pay sometimes $100 as a tip, to drop them home from the bar.

These are the grave consequences of alcoholism, which has destroyed millions of lives. Alcoholism, has destroyed millions of individuals, it has destroyed millions of families, and every day those families with an alcoholic witness the grave trauma and consequences of consuming alcohol. It is reported in the United States, that three out of four spouse abuse victims are reported to have consumed alcohol. Every four out of ten criminals who have resorted violence, have consumed alcohol.

 

Individuals holding powerful and key positions in society, the corporate executives, who were earning millions are begging for quarters today. These individual once believed that they can control their drinking, however as a result of drinking, they are now unable to control their lives.

We have to remember that it is not necessary that every business man, doctor, or lawyer will reach the top. At least the first 30 years of their lives pass by in hard work, and dedication. When those few successful individuals start to grow up to the extent that they outgrow their competitors, they become wealthy and start to drink because they are tired, under stress, or want to relax. They also do so in order to promote their status and fame, by drinking the most exquisite and expensive champagnes and vodkas, in order to show their friends and relatives of the success that they have earned. While showing off to their friends the success that they have earned, they bury their own grave, as a result over consumption of alcohol.

It is a usual practice of social drinkers, that after reaching home from work, immediately they open a can of beer. While the food is being prepared, then a bottle of wine opens. Later on, after food, they would have a cup of coffee, and then sit back of the TV and open another beer, while doing so they drink a few more. If the program gets interesting, they have a few more. Later on that individual gets tired and wants to go to bed, so to relax their mind and body, they have a dose of scotch, or rum and coke, in order to have a unnatural sound sleep. To ensure that they are up and ready for the morning. Those average individuals have sunken so deep in to alcoholism, that they do not realize the great risks that they are exposing themselves to, and this goes on a day to day basis.

We are informed statically that "on average, Americans may consume over 25 gallons of beer, 2 gallons of wine, and 1.5 gallons of distilled spirits each year."

So the average or "social drinker" in society has already sunken so deep in to alcoholism without them even realizing it. The more that the body consumes alcohol, that much more the body will need it.

If someone consumes a very small amount of poison, the body would start to become immune to it day by day.. As time goes by this individual may add a little more quantity, because his immune system accepts and adapts to that poison.

However, what is worst then any poison is alcohol, and if one adds up the entire quantity of alcohol from the entire day, the system has already become immune and dependant upon it, increasing the person's need for it, causing the person to eventually become addicted to it.

It is essential for us to review the damages of consuming alcohol to the body:

• Nervous System: Tingling and loss of sensation in hands and feet.
• Muscles: Weakness and loss of muscle tissue.
• Lungs: Greater chance of chest infections.
• Liver: Liver damage including cirrhosis, hepatitis, and increased risk of liver cancer.
• Pancreas: Pancreatitis.
• Sexual Organs:
  • Males: Impotence and decreased sperm count.
  • Females: Irregular periods, reproductive problems, pregnancy and birth problems.
• Brain: Brain cell damage, loss of memory, confusion, disturbed sleep pattern.
• Breasts: Increased risk of breast cancer.
• Heart: High blood pressure and enlarged heart.
• Skin: Red nose and cheeks, increased perspiration.
• Stomach: Inflammation, bleeding, and ulcers.
• Intestines: Inflamed lining and ulcers.
• Blood: Changes in red blood cells.
• Hands and Feet: "Pins and Needles" and loss of sensation.

The one who becomes a heavy alcoholic is avoided by everyone, regardless if it may his wife, children, relatives, and friends, making him end up on the streets. That alcoholic has become a pain to society, and if he cannot find alcohol, he screams and physically abuses his wife and children. That same nice and polite person by day, becomes a wild barbarian by night. At many times, after the family has no choice, they call the police and kick that person out of the home. Regardless how hard that person has worked for them, by working day and night for the home, wife, and children. The famous actress, Susan Summer, was once giving an interview, and was begging and pleading to the people not to drink. Because when she was young her father was a very nice person when he was not drunk. However, when he use to loose his senses after drinking, then the rest of the family use to hide themselves in the basement in a strongly built room, with a strong door, built by the father himself, in order to protect his own family from him while he was drunk.

How many families are suffering today because of alcohol, when a person is in his senses he feels shy and asks for forgiveness, and feels guilty. But once he or she is a an alcoholic, then he does not care about his wife, daughter, sister, mother, or his children in any manners. Then he gets involved in sexual harassing, regardless if he or she is the father, priest, mother, or sister. There are many sad hidden stories behind, which are unsolved mysteries, as a result of alcoholism. Whomever is drunk looses control over their senses, regardless how major the sins may be as a result. They do not care about how the person has been hurt at a very young age from his own father or mother. There are many wives around the world who are suffering because of alcoholic husbands.

In the business place, when it is time to sign those "big contracts", immediately a celebration with the exquisite wine and champagnes is called. When this individual is indulged in the alcoholism and the party, he is unable concentrate on business and negotiate the price. Due to the distraction of alcohol, the individual fails to realize or assess the clauses from the suppliers that are present.

That person is worried more about having a few more drinks in order to relax himself, to enjoy, and to get over with the deal. Their mind is stuck with the label on the champagne and which label is more delicious. The individual is in such a good mood that the senses are lost in the process of decision making, as a result of the indulging in alcohol. Signing the contract, because the brain is not functioning, and everything looks like a "GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY."

The Lord has prohibited all that which effects and harms first the body and mind. Our Lord who is our creator knows that which is best for us, instead of us learning by the process of trial and error.

Our Lord wants us to be prosperous and live honorable lives in this world and in the hereafter. It is essential upon us to contemplate on the following verse from the Holy Quran:

O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al­Ansâb^[], and Al­Azlâm (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitân's (Satan) handiwork. So avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful (5:90)

It is essential upon us not to obey Satan, so that we may guard the faith, honor, and morality of ourselves, families, and the society around us. All that which leads to the destruction of an individual, and a society at large is prohibited by the Lord, in order for us to avoid the falling in to the trap of Satan.

It is essential and a must upon us to stop the drinking of any alcoholic beverages, in order for us to guard ourselves from all of that which will destroy us. We must realize, anything which harms us as an individual, is harmful to anyone whom we serve or sell it to. So we must abandon anything that involves with alcohol, this includes drinking, serving, buying, selling, and so on.

"Allah's Messenger cursed ten people in connection with wine: the wine-presser, the one who has it pressed, the one who drinks it, the one who conveys it, the one to whom it is conveyed, the one who serves it, the one who sells it, the one who benefits from the price paid for it, the one who buys it, and the one for whom it is bought."