Going on a drinking binge could leave you wide open to infections, as well as hangovers, work suggests.
Drinking copious amounts of alcohol in one session scuppers the immune system by knocking out proteins essential for fighting off bacteria and viruses.
In trials, some of these cytokines were still not "on duty" as long as 24 hours after the mice were dosed with alcohol.
Experts said the work in online journal BMC Immunology should serve as a warning to those who drink too much.
Don Shenker, chief executive of the charity Alcohol Concern, said: "While we all know the immediate short term effects of binge drinking, there's now more evidence emerging about how it can damage our bodies in the longer term.
"The negative effect of alcohol on the immune system is proven, but many people aren't aware of the link.
"Sticking to sensible drinking guidelines of 2-3 units per day for women and 3-4 units for men increases your chance of staying healthy."
Consuming enough alcohol in a single drinking session to get drunk constitutes a "binge", and in the UK, around a third of men and women aged 16 to 24 admit to doing this at least once a week.
Immediate effects of binge-drinking include confusion, blurred vision, poor co-ordination and balance, nausea, anti-social behaviour and an increased risk of accidents. Read more...
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