The short-term effects of alcohol consumption range from a decrease in anxiety and motor skills and euphoria at lower doses to intoxication (drunkenness), to stupor, unconsciousness, anterograde amnesia (memory "blackouts"), and central nervous system depression at higher doses.

Although the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol is 21 in all U.S. states and most territoriesPuerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are the only U.S. jurisdictions to have not increased their legal drinking age to 21 (see National Minimum Drinking Age Act), the legal details for consumption vary greatly.