The key indicators of a drinking problem are not how much one drinks, but the negative consequences experienced and the inability to control consumption. This framework, focusing on the "three C's" (Consumption, Consequences, Control), redefines problematic drinking away from simple volume metrics.

A subset of people (around 8-10%) are genetically predisposed to feel fewer negative effects from alcohol, like body sway or hangovers. This seeming advantage is a significant risk factor, as they lack the crucial negative feedback signals that tell others to stop drinking, allowing for higher consumption and faster dependency.

After a six-month sobriety period, Kevin Rose adopted the '2-2-2 rule': a maximum of two drinks, never on consecutive days, and on a maximum of two days per week. This structured approach helps re-evaluate one's relationship with alcohol without complete abstinence, focusing on moderation and special occasions.

A common ingredient in ketone esters, 1,3-butanediol, is metabolized like alcohol and can be toxic with chronic use. It can deplete the liver's NAD and ATP stores, potentially causing inflammation, fatty liver, and other adverse effects.

The liver has a remarkable capacity to regenerate and can fully repair damage from toxins like alcohol. However, this ability is finite. Once significant scar tissue (cirrhosis) forms, the liver reaches a 'point of no return' and can no longer heal itself, leading to irreversible failure.

Standard liver panels check ALT and AST, but Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) is a more sensitive marker for liver stress, particularly from alcohol or certain supplements. It often elevates before other enzymes, acting as a 'canary in the coal mine' for potential liver issues.

For millennia, humans consumed weak, fermented beverages in communal settings, providing natural limits. The recent inventions of distillation (high-potency alcohol) and cultural shifts toward private, isolated consumption have removed these biological and social guardrails, making alcohol far more dangerous than it was historically.

The popular idea that moderate drinking is healthier than abstaining is flawed. Studies creating this 'J-shaped curve' often include former alcoholics with existing health problems in the 'non-drinker' category. This skews the data, making moderate drinkers appear healthier by comparison when, in fact, zero alcohol is best.

While many health risks from alcohol appear at moderate to high consumption, there is no safe threshold for certain cancers. Even drinking within official 'low-risk' guidelines still leads to an observable increase in the risk for breast and esophageal cancer, challenging the notion of a completely harmless amount.