During an annual physical, patients may be asked: ‘How much alcohol do you consume most weeks?’ or ‘How many days over the past week did you have a drink?’ Some doctors simply ask, ‘Do you drink at all?’
Most physicians agree that evaluating alcohol consumption—and determining whether it affects physical or mental health—is a critical part of routine checkups. Evidence-based tools exist to facilitate these discussions, even within a 15-minute appointment. Yet studies show that alcohol screening and counseling are frequently shortened or omitted entirely during primary care visits.
This oversight carries significant consequences for patients and the healthcare system. Excessive alcohol use—defined as more than one drink per day for women or two for men—is associated with dozens of diseases and reduced lifespans. Even moderate drinking has been linked to higher risks of cancer, hypertension, liver damage, and other serious conditions.
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