Alcohol consumption is socially acceptable but potentially dangerous because of the risk of addiction development. The alcohol molecule has an anxiolytic effect on the central nervous system, but also enables the development of tolerance and, eventually, dependence . Alcoholism is a disease that afflicts many people with great consequences on the entire body. Alcohol has a harmful effect on the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system, the endocrine system, the immune system and the oral cavity. The most common cause of death caused by alcohol is cirrhosis, followed by malignant neoplasms. Ethanol itself is not carcinogenic; however the breakdown products have a harmful effect on a number of tissues and on carcinogenesis. Alcohol affects the mouth indirectly by causing a number of symptoms and diseases of various organ systems, and it also has a direct toxic effect on mucous membranes and tissue of the salivary glands. The most dangerous consequence of long-term alcohol consumption is oral cancer, which is often recognized too late and then hard to treat. Other harmful effects include xerostomia which causes susceptibility to infections and potentially greater risk for tooth decay.