Alcohol…the facts

The Names:

Booze, poison, drink, juice, nectar, sauce, grog, syrup, piss….

The Facts:

All alcoholic drinks contain pure alcohol, (also called ethanol) in varying amounts. The strength, colour and taste of a drink depend on how much alcohol it contains and what other ingredients are in it. The strength of a drink is shown on the label as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the stronger the drink. Lager could be around 7%, most wines are between 10-15% and vodka and other spirits could be around 50% or even higher. Pure ethanol is a poison; our bodies cannot tolerate it.

When you drink, alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream and carried around to all the parts of your body (including your brain). The exact amount of alcohol in your body varies depending on many factors including how much you have drunk, and what you have been drinking. In addition, other factors may make you feel more or less drunk, such as whether you've eaten, your weight, your health, how often you drink and any medication you are on (such as antibiotics).

Let's face it, most people enjoy alcohol and most of the time it's not a problem. The general advice to us girlies is that to drink 2 units a day or less (14 units or less a week) has no significant health risks. BUT…drinking 3 or more units a day (or more than 21 units a week) can seriously damage your health.

One unit of alcohol is equal to:

• Half a pint of beer, lager or cider
• A small glass of wine
• A single pub measure of spirits such as whiskey

The Law:

Here are the rules as far as booze goes, as told to us by the lovely people at alcoholconcern.org.uk …

• You can purchase beer or cider when you eat a meal in an designated eating area on licensed premises from the age of 16
• You're allowed in a bar from the age of 14, but you can't buy, drink or be supplied with alcohol in a bar until you're 18. So not only can you not buy it, your mates can't buy it and give it to you either. You're also not allowed to buy alcohol from an off licence or a supermarket.
• When you hit 18, you can buy alcohol from any of the above, and it might seem like the world's your oyster, but be warned…being "drunk and disorderly" in a public place will get you nowhere except the residential suite of your local police station for a night.
• The legal limit for driving after drinking in the UK is 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The number of drinks it takes to reach this level varies from person to person, but it is generally accepted to be 2 units. (One unit is a small glass of wine, half a pint of beer or a single measure of spirits). More than two of those and you need to make alternative plans for getting home. Or better still, decide before you go out whether you want to drink and sort it out in advance. Book a taxi. Cadge a lift with a friend. Walk (in a group). But don't drink and drive. Seriously. It's just not worth the risk.

The Effects:

• Alcohol has a relaxing effect and can help you feel more sociable and confident because of this
• When you drink, as more alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream, your speech can become slurred, your co-ordination will deteriorate, your emotions will be heightened and your reaction times slower
• Drinking alcohol raises your blood pressure
• Alcohol dehydrates your body
• Alcohol slows down your nervous system, which controls your breathing and heart rate

The Risks:

• Alcohol is a depressant. If you're feeling down, it will make you feel worse, and sometimes it can drag you down for no reason at all
• A regular, long term drinking habit can lead to physical as well as psychological dependency, or addiction.
• The more you drink, the more your tolerance will develop. This means you need more to get the same effect. It might seem like a good thing but it also means you run the risk of drinking too much without realising and damaging your body
• Excessive alcohol can cause many problems including permanent damage to internal organs, liver disease and cancers of the mouth and throat, alcohol poisoning and even death. It can also cause problems with your skin, trembling (the shakes), weight gain, brain damage, mood swings and personality changes.
• Getting very drunk can lead to loss of consciousness. Users then risk choking to death on their own vomit.
• Hangovers make you feel ill for a period of time, sometimes even for days.
• Mixing alcohol with other drugs is extremely dangerous. Because drink slows down your central nervous system (controlling heart and breathing rate); combined with other depressant drugs it could shut your body down altogether.

The Myths:

Because getting drunk makes you lose your inhibitions; it has many risks. It is often a factor in accidents, drowning, sexual risk taking, and date rape. With this last one in mind; if you are out drinking, then keep an eye on your drink. Only accept drinks from strangers if you're absolutely sure what's in them (i.e. you're at the bar and you've seen them being prepared). Take your time. Pace yourself. The smartest girls out there are the one controlling their drinking, not letting their drinking control them. We know the score. You're out in a club, you spy a nice guy across the crowded dancefloor and you think, "one more drink and I'll be brave enough to go over to him". But contrary to popular opinion, you don't look your best swaying over with one eye open, one eye shut. And the "I just threw up in the toilets" look isn't a great one either. Trust us. If the guy's worth having, he'll be on the lookout for a girl who still knows what day it is. And if he isn't….would you really want him?

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