What does alcohol do to the body? does it speed up the aging process? i'm an aspiring athlete, so could drinking hurt my career?

Alcohol risks: FDA wouldn't approve alcohol for human consumption as it is hepato-toxic (liver cirrhosis). Aging per se in not an issue. It can make you fat due to lots of non-nutritional calories in alcohol. Also there are obvious risks when drunk. On the other hand it does lubricate the soul, so only you can decide if you want to drink. "Everything in moderation, including moderation" Oscar Wilde

Moderation good.: Excess amount of alcohol can speed up the aging process. However in moderation it is good for health. Moderation means two drinks a day for males and one for females. So moderate drinking should not hurt your career.