Your Life

Alcohol

Alcohol is found in drinks like beer, lager, alcopops, cider, wine and spirits.

Facts:

  • It's illegal to sell alcohol to under-18s (unless they're 16 or 17 and having a meal in a restaurant).
  • Police have the legal power to confiscate alcohol from anyone they know to be, or reasonably believe to be under 18 drinking in a public place.
  • It's illegal to give alcohol to a child under 5 years without doctor's consent.
  • Alcoholic drinks come in different strengths, measured as a % by volume. The higher the % marked on the label, the stronger the drink will be.
  • Alcopops often contain more alcohol than many beers, lager or cider.

Effects:

  • Many people enjoy drinking alcohol. In small amounts it can help them to relax and feel more sociable.
  • Some people use alcohol to escape from their problems.
  • The effect depends on the strength of the drink and how fast it is consumed. It also varies according to when a person last ate, and their weight, mood and surroundings.
  • Speech can become slurred, co-ordination affected and emotions heightened.
  • A hangover (the after-effects of alcohol) can leave you feeling ill for a day or so.

Risks:

  • Alcohol is a depressant drug. Users can end up feeling very down.
  • Women often get more drunk than men on the same amount of alcohol. They can also develop drink-related health problems earlier. This is usually because women are smaller than men.
  • Overdose (drinking far too much) can lead to loss of consciousness. Users then risk choking on their own vomit. This can kill.
  • Overdose can also cause alcoholic poisoning, which can be fatal.
  • Long-term over-use can lead to serious liver, heart and stomach problems.
  • More than 25,000 deaths in the UK each year are alcohol-related.
  • Mixing alcohol with other drugs is SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS.

A young person writes:

Drinking your sorrows away is considered wrong and I in fact agree with this. I believe it should also be mentioned that drinking is not necessarily wrong if it is in moderation.

I think I speak for the majority of young people that if your motives are correct (i.e. you are not attempting to forget your problems) it is good fun to go out and drink with your mates. I am also willing to admit that I sometimes drink too much but as long as it doesn't get out of hand I happen to believe that this is ok.

If there is a particular drug (my example would be alcohol although this can apply to many other situations) that you are in fact sheltered from or in an environment where it is the forbidden fruit it can in fact be worse than being in an environment where it is part of the culture. This because it may appeal more and stir your curiosity into trying it but in an environment where it is everyday life you see the effects of the drug abuse and it can help you make a decision against it.

I believe that it is true that drug abuse may be enough of a bad influence on you to push you into trying it but I also believe that the risk is nothing compared to coming out of a sheltered life into the big wide world.


A young person writes:

These days young people think that it's good to drink to get away from your problems but Alcohol is the worst thing for you and I am going to tell you why.

From the age of 13 I started to get loads of problems. I started to drink at the age of 18. I drank so much I was getting drunk, so drunk that I was threatening I would kill myself to my friends. The drink was not helping me with my problems and my drinking habit started to get worse.

I decided to get help as it was starting to take over my life. For 10 to 12 months I have not touched a drop of alcohol and now have counselling for my problems.

My life has improved so much and now, when I look at drink, I say to myself "no I don't want any of that anymore".

My advice is don't drink, it doesn't help, it makes you more depressed and the next day you have a hangover and still feel depressed. Save your money and go and see a counsellor instead of having a drink, a counsellor is for free.


The dangers of binge drinking

Alcoholic drinks, when enjoyed sensibly and in moderation, can be a source of pleasure for many, but many things taken to excess can be poisonous enough to kill - even water!

Alcohol is one. The fact is that if a person drinks extremely large amounts of alcohol quickly on one occasion, there is a risk of serious injury or even death. Unfortunately there are young people who make this mistake every year. But how much is too much? It depends on the person's size, weight, gender, genetic make-up and other factors.

However, it is clear that if an average person drank one and a half 75cl bottles of spirits or equivalent at one time, it would be enough to kill them. If you are small or female - or both - you may die or come close to death on half that amount.

How can alcohol kill?

Alcohol drunk in gross excess at one time affects the body in two ways that can be dangerous: it depresses the brain and it irritates the stomach.

The brain controls breathing, the heart and body temperature. In other words it controls the body's accelerator, the thermostat is switched off and the body just winds down until something stops - such as your heart.

Add the second effect, the stomach irritation, and there is another danger. To vomit when the brain in malfunctioning means that choking to death is a real risk. Even worse, vomiting in this condition can trigger an instant nerve reflex that stops the heart - dead. If the two effects work together, a person could die from choking after a much smaller dose than is needed for direct poisoning.

What does a person with alcoholic poisoning look like?

  • The person will be collapsed.
  • They will be difficult or impossible to rouse.
  • The body will be winding down so the skin is cool and clammy.
  • The breathing is slow and noisy.
  • The pupils of the eyes may be wide.
  • There may have been some vomiting.
  • They may have wet themselves - or worse.

How can I avoid alcoholic poisoning?

DO:

  • Drink moderately
  • Drink slowly
  • Space your drinks
  • Eat with your drink

DON'T:

  • Drink to excess
  • Drink too much of anything with which you are not familiar
  • Drink drinks you have not seen mixed
  • Drink for a bet or a competition
  • Let drinking in rounds or 'shouts' push you into drinking more than you want

When things go wrong...

Sometimes a drinking session gets out of hand and young people can become intoxicated quite quickly, even to the point of slipping into unconsciousness.

Steve Evans, a paramedic with the Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service, has some first aid advice for young people. Steve says:


  • Don't panic, the Ambulance Service is there to help you in this situation.
  • Clear the casualty's airway of vomit by finger sweeping if necessary.
  • Make sure the casualty is breathing by looking, listening and feeling for movement of the chest or abdomen - if they are not breathing then you need to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  • If the casualty is breathing then you need to clear the area of broken glass so that you do not roll them on to it.
  • Having done this you need to roll the casualty into the recovery position, that is on to their side so that they can still breathe. If you roll them right over then they will not be able to breathe properly, as their own body weight will stop them from breathing.
  • This is the time to send or phone for the Ambulance by dialling 999, giving the exact location of the casualty. It will help the Ambulance crew if you send somebody to meet them and guide them to the casualty.
  • You should try and keep the casualty warm as a side effect of too much alcohol is hypothermia.
  • Keep checking that the casualty has a clear airway and is still breathing properly until the Ambulance arrives.
  • By following these simple steps you may save the life of a friend. Do not worry about getting into trouble by getting involved, because we are more interested in saving lives than telling people off.

What to do if someone you know has a drink problem

If someone you know has a drink problem, it will help both of you if you know more about alcohol, its effects and the services available.

  • Some people try hard to reduce their drinking. If they are addicted to alcohol, this may be very difficult - they may need help.
  • If you cover up or make excuses for someone's drinking you may feel you are being kind but what you are doing is making it possible for them to carry on drinking.
  • Try to get a person to recognise the problem and seek help. Choose a sober moment to talk to the drinker. Having a row with someone when they are drunk is pointless as they won't change their ways and you will get more angry and frustrated. Don't get caught up in the circle of which came first: did problems cause drinking or did drinking cause problems?
  • Remember that the conversation may spread over several occasions. Don't worry if you feel you have not been listened to - you have been heard.
  • Be sympathetic but firm. Say what the effect of the drinking has been and what will happen if it goes on. Do not threaten any action unless you mean it.

If the drinker continues to deny the problem or refuses to do anything about it, it will drag you down too. Don’t exhaust yourself by feeling guilty or by trying time after time to help. Put your efforts into caring for yourself and your family/friends.

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NORCAS

NORCAS Youth Team is a county-wide service available to young people 19 years and under who may want support and information about drugs, alcohol and related issues.

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