A high level of alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of health and social problems. Alcohol dependence occurs when a person has a physical or psychological dependence on the consumption of alcohol.

A high level of alcohol consumption is defined as drinking more than 60 g of pure alcohol per day for men and more than 40 g of pure alcohol per day for women. For example, a bottle of wine (750 ml; 12% alcohol by volume) contains approximately 70 g alcohol and a bottle of beer (330 ml; 5% alcohol by volume) contains approximately 13 g alcohol.

There are proven medicinal treatments available that can help you reduce your alcohol intake on your own. A common treatment is Selincro (Nalmefene), which works by affecting processes in the brain that are responsible for your urge to continue drinking.