ALCOHOL

 
Getting Drunk

People often drink alcohol to make them feel more relaxed, more friendly, and to make them feel more confident. Beer, lager, cider, wines, spirits and alcopops all contain alcohol, and these drinks can be bought in many different places such as pubs, supermarkets, off-licenses and restaurants.

But you know that already. This is what you might not know.

Teenagers' bodies are still growing, and therefore can't cope with alcohol the same way adults' can. While this may seem like an excellent way of getting drunk quicker, it actually means that young people are more likely to feel sick, take risks, lose control and even blackout when drinking a smaller amount than someone older.

Misuse Of Alcohol

Though alcohol is a legal drug and can be used safely, many young people do not use alcohol in a safe way. Most people will 'binge' drink alcohol in large amounts, and this is when it becomes dangerous. Alcopops are a big temptation for young people as they are sweet, attractively packaged and do not taste like alcohol. They are deliberately targeted at young drinkers. General guidance for teenagers is to have no more than 7 units in a week and no more than 2 units in a day, with drink free days in between. One bottle of alcopop is the equivalent to the recommended 2 units. Bingeing a whole week's units in one go is particularly harmful.

Health

As well as the effects that alcohol causes by altering your mind, alcohol also has bad effects on your overall health.

• In men alcohol can block the nerves that are needed for an erection.
   
• The liver can only break down one unit of alcohol per hour. That's half a pint of lager or half an alcopop.
   
• If the liver has to break down too much alcohol it will not work properly and may be damaged.
   
• Heavy boozing damages red muscle fibres that your body needs for sport.
   
• Alcohol may cause inflammation of the lining of the stomach and this can lead to stomach ulcers.
   
• In pregnant women alcohol is associated with a higher risk of miscarriage and problems getting pregnant in later life.
   
• Alcohol can contribute to anxiety and depression and is linked to suicide. People oftern drink to cheer themselves up but end up feeling more depressed and anxious.
   
• Alcohol is high in calories and could make people that drink too much overweight.
   
• Alcohol causes high blood pressure, this means more chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
   
• Combined with smoking alcohol increases the risk of getting cancer of the throat and mouth.
   
• Drink kills brain cells. Even moderate drinking can lead to memory loss.