Drinking too much alcohol slows your reactions, impairs your judgment, and can even cause blackouts and memory lapses—and that’s just on a Friday night. In the long term, alcohol abuse can cause permanent brain damage. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that long-term drinking can actually shrink your brain! It also creates problems with the structures that carry information between brain cells—making it harder for you to think and react even when you’re stone-cold sober. Because heavy drinkers often have poor diets, dietary deficiencies may also harm the brain. Consume alcohol in moderation—preferably no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.