Alcohol

How does Alcohol effect the body??

Alcohol puts fat metabolism on hold.

The second most calorie nutrient behind fat containing 9 cal per gram.

If your serious about losing weight & losing weight you should drink alcohol in moderation or NOT AT ALL.

This for me means limiting Alcohol to one or two beverages during the weekend.
Excessive Alcohol consumption will definitely compromise your results that you will get from your training & nutrition program.

What does the Liver do? (http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068925/)
Storing glycogen (fuel for the body) which is made from sugars. When required, glycogen is broken down into glucose which is released into the bloodstream.
Helping to process fats and proteins from digested food.
Making proteins that are essential for blood to clot (clotting factors).
Processing many medicines which you may take.
Helping to remove or process alcohol, poisons and toxins from the body.
Making bile which passes from the liver to the gut and helps to digest fats

What happens when you drink alcohol?
When you drink alcohol, it is absorbed into the bloodstream from the stomach and intestines. All blood from the stomach and intestines first goes through the liver before circulating around the whole body. So, the highest concentration of alcohol is in the blood flowing through the liver.Liver cells contain enzymes (chemicals) which process (metabolise) alcohol. The enzymes break down alcohol into other chemicals which in turn are then broken down into water and carbon dioxide. These are then passed out in the urine and from the lungs. The liver cells can metabolise only a certain amount of alcohol per hour. So, if you drink alcohol faster than your liver can deal with it, the level of alcohol in your bloodstream rises

Cirrhosis is a condition where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis). The scarring tends to be a gradual process. The scar tissue affects the normal structure and regrowth of liver cells. Liver cells become damaged and die as scar tissue gradually develops. So, the liver gradually loses its ability to function well. The scar tissue can also affect the blood flow through the liver which can cause 'back pressure' in the blood vessels which bring blood to the liver.

References:
http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068925/ (refer to this website which I have copied the above information from)
http://www.healthchecksystems.com/alcohol.htm