Alcohol has short-term and long-term effects on organs, including the liver. The liver plays an important role and its main task is to break down substances and remove toxins from the body. Heavy and long-term alcohol consumption puts a strain on the liver, hindering its ability to filter alcohol and damaging liver cells. Alcohol causes liver disease.
Normally, the liver can replace the lost cells, but the scarring of alcoholic hepatitis prevents the liver from regenerating. Drinking too much alcohol for several days can cause fat to build up in the liver and damage cells. If a person has fatty liver disease and continues to drink alcohol, permanent scarring can worsen the disease and increase the risk.