When does social drinking cross the line to become a real problem? And how much daily alcohol is too much? Americans can get get free, confidential answers to questions like these at thousands of sites across the United States on National Alcohol Screening Day on April 7.

The daylong education and screening program, sponsored by federal health agencies, is meant to increase awareness about alcohol’s impact on health, help people evaluate their own alcohol use, and provide referrals to local treatment and support services for people who may require further evaluation.

Visitors to screening sites will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire designed to assess drinking patterns. They’ll also be able to talk one-on-one with a trained health professional to discuss the next steps, should they think they have a problem.

National Alcohol Screening Day is sponsored by the nonprofit Screening for Mental Health initiative, in collaboration with federal agencies, including the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

For most adults, moderate alcohol use will cause few, if any, problems. However, for others, alcohol can affect the body and mind in different ways at different stages of life. Experts point out that as people age, their bodies are less able to handle alcohol safely, so that drinking tolerated in college, for example, may not be easily tolerated in middle or old age.

Gender is also a factor when it comes to alcohol and health, the experts say. Overall, women drink less than men but are more likely to experience adverse alcohol-related health problems, including damage to the heart muscle, liver and brain; trauma resulting from traffic crashes; and violence and death.

For these and other reasons, federal health experts are urging Americans with a drinking problem - and especially those wondering if they might have a problem at all - to take part in the screenings.

SOURCE: Screening for Mental Health, news release, March 2005