Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive, disease that is characterised by a strong craving for alcohol despite negative repercussions to health, family or work. Alcoholism is generally marked by four symptoms: Craving for alcohol: compulsion or need to drink; Impaired control: the inability to limit drinking on any given occasion; Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped after a heavy bout of drinking (these include nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety); and Tolerance: the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to feel its effects.

Alcoholism is regarded as having genetic, psychological, social, and cultural causes. Although alcoholism tends to run in families, and genetic factors partially explain this pattern, a child of an alcoholic parent will not automatically develop alcoholism, and conversely, a person with no family history of alcoholism can become alcohol dependent. A person's environment may also influence the development of alcoholism. Environmental factors include the influence of friends, stress levels, and the ease of obtaining alcohol.

Although alcoholism cannot be cured, it is treatable, and medication has become available to help people safely withdraw from alcohol and prevent relapse. Even if an alcoholic has been sober for a long time and has regained their health, they must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages or they may suffer a relapse. It should be noted that women become more intoxicated than men after drinking the same amount of alcohol and that alcohol abuse takes a heavier physical toll on women than on men.

Heavy drinking can increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis.