A significant new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has found that even a single episode of binge drinking can cause rapid and measurable damage to the gut lining. Published in the journal *Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research*, the findings indicate that consuming roughly four drinks for women or five for men within about two hours can weaken the gut's protective barrier. This damage leads to a phenomenon known as 'leaky gut,' where the intestinal lining becomes compromised, allowing bacteria and toxins from the gut to enter the bloodstream. The study identified a specific mechanism for this injury: certain immune cells called neutrophils release web-like structures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These NETs directly damage the upper small intestine, weakening its barrier function. The infiltration of bacterial products into the bloodstream then triggers a harmful inflammatory response, which can persist long after the alcohol consumption. Notably, the researchers demonstrated that by blocking these NETs using a simple enzyme, they could significantly reduce the immune cell accumulation in the gut lining and decrease bacterial leakage, effectively preventing much of the observed gut damage. This discovery highlights a potential early step in the development of alcohol-related gut and liver injuries. The study underscores the immediate and profound impact of even short bouts of heavy drinking on gastrointestinal health, providing crucial insights for understanding and potentially mitigating alcohol's deleterious effects on the body.