State of Illinois
10/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/29/2026 13:23
October is National Liver Awareness Month
The American Liver Foundation (ALF) was founded in 1976 to combat the rising incidence of liver disease and the lack of awareness within the public and the medical community. This October, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission invites you to learn more about how alcohol affects liver health and why responsible alcohol consumption matters.
Why is the liver important?
The liver is the body's largest internal organ and performs several vital functions , including filtering blood, managing coagulation, controlling blood sugar, storing iron, creating proteins, and fighting infections.
What is liver disease?
Liver disease is any condition that damages your liver and affects how it works. It can range from mild to life-threatening. While there are many causes of damage, the American Liver Foundation reports: " Alcohol-associated liver disease can occur among people who drink excessively, usually over a long period of time. It is possible to have acute (sudden) liver damage after drinking large amounts of alcohol in a shorter time; however, most alcohol-associated liver disease happens to people who have been drinking alcohol beyond moderate amounts for several years."
"Raising awareness about liver health is essential to helping people make informed decisions about alcohol consumption. If you choose to drink, do so responsibly and understand the potential risks to your health." said Illinois Liquor Control Commission Executive Director, Lisa Gardner.
Types of alcohol-associated liver disease include:
- Alcohol-associated fatty liver: extra fat builds up in the liver cells; most heavy drinkers develop this condition, and it usually reverses if a person stops drinking alcohol.
- Alcohol-associated hepatitis: severe acute inflammation (swelling) of the liver that can destroy liver cells; it can reverse if a person stops drinking alcohol.
- Alcohol-associated cirrhosis: the most serious type, where the liver becomes hardened with scar tissue, making it harder to function; it may be reversible in its earliest stages, but is generally not reversible in very advanced stages.
You can take ALF's liver health quiz to assess your risk for liver disease and a list of questions to ask your doctor.
About the Illinois Liquor Control Commission
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission's mission is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of Illinois through careful control and regulation of the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic liquors and through the development of strategies to reduce youth access to alcohol products and the provision of training and education on responsible beverage service.
To learn more about the ILCC and its divisions, visit ilcc.illinois.gov . To submit a tip or complaint to the ILCC's Enforcement Division, click here .
State of Illinois published this content on October 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 29, 2026 at 19:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]