To much alcohol can have such a numbing effect on the nervous system that it can paralyze your respiratory centers.

Fact: Alcohol poisoning can occur when there is an excessively high concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream. In young individuals, this can occur at a blood alcohol concentration of 1.7 per mille, while in adults and experienced drinkers, it can occur at a blood alcohol concentration of 4 per mille. The amount of alcohol required to cause alcohol poisoning also depends on factors such as body weight, gender, drinking experience, and brain volume.