Drinking more alcohol than the liver can cope with can damage liver cells and produce toxic by-product chemicals. Drinking above the recommended safe limit is hazardous. That is, it increases your risk of developing diseases such as cirrhosis (liver damage), damage to the pancreas, certain cancers, heart problems, sexual problems, and other conditions. About 1 in 3 men and about 1 in 7 women drink more than the safe limit. In general, the more you drink, the greater the risk.