Numerous studies have shown that the consumption of alcohol affects human health. One of the many ways that alcohol can exert its effects is by altering and subsequently lowering immune function [1]. Alcohol affects immune function through its effects on innate immune function/responses (i.e. monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells and neutrophils among others) and adaptive immune function/responses (i.e. CD4 and CD8 T cells, Th1, 2, and 17 cells, and B cells among others as reviewed in [2,3]). These effects are dependent upon the pattern of alcohol exposure, which diversely influences the immune system and function. Inflammation, one of the body’s first defenses against pathogens, is both attenuated by moderate alcohol intake and increased by heavy alcohol consumption, creating a U-shaped relationship between alcohol and inflammation [4]. Alcoholism, such as chronic or heavy alcohol consumption, has been described as an inflammatory condition which can affect inflammation of the liver, intestines, lungs, and brain [5]. Alcohol consumption affects inflammatory processes through its effect to suppress the production of inflammatory mediators. It also compromises the integrity of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract
