A board-certified internal medicine physician discusses how alcohol intake can be considered as a calculated risk. Alcohol (technically ethanol) is the most common toxin and carcinogen that humans drink voluntarily. A potential benefit is the short-term upregulation of endorphins, GABA and serotonin, potentially causing feelings of relaxation and sociability. On the flip side, drinking any amount of alcohol increases your risk for cancer. The risk of long-term consequences such as liver failure (cirrhosis) and heart failure go up exponentially as the number of daily drinks increases. Drinking alcohol may also be the most efficient way to gain weight.