ALCOHOL

 
Names

• Alcohol

Description

• Alcohol is found in many different types and flavours of drinks, including beer, lager, wine, cider, spirits and alcopops

Use

• It is illegal for anyone under 18 to buy or drink alcohol in public places (unless 16 or 17 and having a meal in a restaurant)
• The strength of alcoholic drinks is measured in %, the higher the %, the stronger the drink
• There are guidelines to advise over 18's on how much they can drink before risking harm

Effects

• Alcohol is a depressant drug this means it can make people feel more relaxed and confident, but also slur speech and affect co-ordination
• There are many different factors which altar the effects of alcohol, including:

• The strength of the drink
• How fast it has been drunk
• How long ago the drinker last ate
• The drinker's weight
• The drinker's mood and surroundings
• People who drink alcohol regularly can become addicted and find it difficult to stop

Risks

• Too much alcohol could cause users to fall unconscious and choke on their own vomit
• Excessive use can lead to alcoholic poisoning
• It can make people do things that they regret later on
• Long-term heavy drinking can lead to serious liver, heart and stomach damage
• It is seriously dangerous to mix alcohol with other drugs as it can cause the body to slow down to the point where it stops working altogether

Law

• It is not against the law to use alcohol at home or in public if you are over five years of age
• It is illegal for someone to sell it to under 18's
• If you are under 18 and seen drinking in public by the police, they can confiscate the alcohol (take it away from you)