for Veterans and the Public

Alcohol is a strong toxin to the liver, even in people without hepatitis C. Drinking too much can lead to cirrhosis of the liver, advanced liver disease, or even liver cancer.

The risk of these problems is much higher for people with hepatitis C. Hepatitis C damages the liver, weakening the liver's natural function of breaking down alcohol and removing its toxins.

At present, there is no evidence for a safe level of alcohol for people with hepatitis C. The best advice is to avoid alcohol completely. This may be the hardest thing for you to do.