Regular drinking alters the neural circuits that control habitual and impulsive behavior, making individuals more impulsive even when not drinking.

Alcohol consumption can lead to long-term changes in neural circuitry and hormone systems, resulting in increased baseline stress and lower mood overall.

Some individuals with severe addiction may never fully recover, as their brain's balance can remain tipped towards pain even after prolonged abstinence.

Alcohol increases the number of synapses in the neural circuits that control habitual behavior, enhancing the execution of existing habits.

Alcohol consumption can impair motor function and judgment, especially in those not accustomed to drinking, and it suppresses the neural networks involved in memory formation and storage, which is why people often forget events from a night of drinking.

Resetting the dopamine system typically requires 30 days of abstaining from addictive substances or behaviors to allow the brain to regenerate its reward pathways.

Low to moderate alcohol consumption may still negatively impact brain health, potentially causing neurodegeneration.

Chronic drinking, even if not daily, can lead to a decrease in top-down inhibition, resulting in heightened impulsivity and habitual behavior.

Regular drinkers or those with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism may experience increased alertness and mood when consuming alcohol.