Alcoholic liver disease can be prevented by not drinking alcohol.
The only long-term effect of alcoholic fatty liver is that it may progress to hepatitis or cirrhosis if drinking continues. Alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis can lead to death from liver failure. Infection, kidney failure known as chronic renal failure, and bleeding are other common causes of death in cirrhosis. Liver damage also leads to malnutrition, weakness, and jaundice.
Alcoholic liver disease is not contagious.