There are quite a few ways that alcohol can damage the digestive system. First of all, it can cause major heartburn. Second of all, it can lead to gastritis, which is the inflammation of the stomach. And third, it increases your risk of getting small intestinal cancer. There are also many ways in which alcohol can damage the pancreas. The biggest way is that it causes pancreatitis. And pancreatitis has some nasty effects on your body. It causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fevers.