2 MIN READ
JULY 2026
How alcohol affects your brain and body
Many people enjoy having a drink to unwind or celebrate with friends and family — it can help take the edge off in the moment. But there are other ways alcohol can affect your brain and body that are helpful to keep in mind.
Looking for more? Find other articles below
Your brain
Myth: A drink or two helps you de-stress.
Fact: It can help you feel relaxed at first. That’s because it slows your brain’s communication signals. But alcohol raises cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. Over time, relying on it to cope can actually make stress and anxiety harder to manage. It also affects mood, memory and decision-making, even in small amounts.
Your body
Myth: Only heavy drinking affects your health.
Fact: Even moderate drinking can disrupt sleep, weaken your immune system, irritate your digestive tract and change how medications work. It can also raise the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Want to take a closer look at your drinking?
Whether you want to cut back, take a break or quit, support is available. Pelago offers confidential support for alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, pain medication and cannabis use. Coaching, digital tools, habit tracking and medication support are all available 24/7 through the app.
Pelago is available at no cost to employees and family members ages 15+ enrolled in an Aetna, Triple-S, or HMSA Costco medical plan.
Mind Companion Self-care has self-guided tools with interactive sessions you can use anytime to help you manage stress, social anxiety, substance use and more.
Starting points for care
If you’re not sure where to start, Resources for Living (RFL) and your Aetna Live Healthy Team can help. An RFL Care Partner offers 24/7 emotional support and can help you find a therapist for 8 free counseling sessions. Your dedicated Live Healthy Coach offers 1-on-1 health support and can help guide you during stressful life events, after a hospital stay, or help you find inpatient or outpatient treatment for alcohol and substance use.
Resources for you
Pelago offers confidential coaching, digital tools, habit tracking and medication support to cut back on, take a break or quit nicotine, alcohol or other substances. Available 24/7 through the app.
pelago.health/costco | App | 877-349-7755 | 24/7 | Ages 15+ | No cost
With Mind Companion Self-care explore self-guided interactive sessions to help improve your emotional well-being, at your own pace. You can also find content on dealing with substance use concerns. This free program is available to all Costco employees, members of your household and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | No cost
RFL offers free and confidential counseling in-the-moment support, 24/7, to help you work through stress and everyday challenges. You also get 8 free counseling sessions and free well-being coaching to help you work toward almost any goal. Find content on substance use concerns, as well as connections to local support groups. Available at no cost to all Costco employees, household members and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | 24/7 | No cost
Your dedicated Live Healthy Team coach can connect you with 1-on-1 health support from medical professionals, resources, care and other benefits that meet your unique needs.
800-814-3543 | Monday–Friday, 7 am–7 pm CT | No cost
Pelago offers confidential coaching, digital tools, habit tracking and medication support to cut back on, take a break or quit nicotine, alcohol or other substances. Available 24/7 through the app.
pelago.health/costco | App | 877-349-7755 | 24/7 | Ages 15+ | No cost
With Mind Companion Self-care explore self-guided interactive sessions to help improve your emotional well-being, at your own pace. You can also find content on dealing with substance use concerns. This free program is available to all Costco employees, members of your household and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | No cost
RFL offers free and confidential counseling in-the-moment support, 24/7, to help you work through stress and everyday challenges. You also get 8 free counseling sessions and free well-being coaching to help you work toward almost any goal. Find content on substance use concerns, as well as connections to local support groups. Available at no cost to all Costco employees, household members and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | 24/7 | No cost
Pelago offers confidential coaching, digital tools, habit tracking and medication support to cut back on, take a break or quit nicotine, alcohol or other substances. Available 24/7 through the app.
pelago.health/costco | App | 877-349-7755 | 24/7 | Ages 15+ | No cost
With Mind Companion Self-care explore self-guided interactive sessions to help improve your emotional well-being, at your own pace. You can also find content on dealing with substance use concerns. This free program is available to all Costco employees, members of your household and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | No cost
RFL offers free and confidential counseling in-the-moment support, 24/7, to help you work through stress and everyday challenges. You also get 8 free counseling sessions and free well-being coaching to help you work toward almost any goal. Find content on substance use concerns, as well as connections to local support groups. Available at no cost to all Costco employees, household members and dependent children up to age 26 living away from home.
RFL.com/Costco | 833-721-2320 (TTY: 711) | 24/7 | No cost