Frank and Honest: Alcohol

Alcohol

What is it?
Alcohol is found in drinks like beer, lager, alco-pops, cider, wine and spirits and is measured as a percentage (%) of the drink. The higher the percentage, the stronger the drink.

Also known as…
Alcoholic drinks are sometimes called booze, bevy and tipple.

What does the law say?
It is illegal to sell alcohol to under 18’s. It is also illegal for under 18’s to purchase alcohol. Police may have powers to remove alcohol from under 18’s drinking in public places. If you are over 18, you can buy alcohol from licensed premises during certain hours.

It is illegal to drink and drive, and can be punished with a fine and/or removal of driving licence and/or imprisonment.

What are the effects?

Alcohol is a depressant drug that slows down your body reactions and the working of the brain.
The effects of alcohol depend on the strength of the alcohol and how much you drink, on your mood and on the situation.
Small amounts can make you feel more confident and relaxed.
Your speech may be slurred and your co-ordination affected.
If you drink too much alcohol or become drunk you may not realise what you are doing and you won’t remember what you did after you sober up.

What are the risks?

Alcohol can take a while to affect you – you can feel fine but one or two drinks too many can leave you ill or drunk and out of control.
You can develop a strong psychological and physical dependence on alcohol. Many people with an alcohol dependence find it very difficult to kick the habit and stay off alcohol.
Overdose can lead to alcoholic poisoning, which can put you in a coma or can be fatal.
Long-term excessive use of alcohol causes illnesses such as liver damage, stomach cancer and heart disease.
Because alcohol slows the body down, too much can lead to loss of consciousness. People may choke on their vomit.
Alcohol can reduce your inhibitions and make you feel more confident that you usually are. You may feel overly confident and do things you wouldn’t normally do.
Alcohol can make you more argumentative and some people become aggressive when drinking. A&E wards in cities and towns are full of people injured from fights or being attacked on Friday and Saturday nights.
When your co-ordination is affected you are more likely to fall or be involved in an accident.
Alcohol can make you more emotional. If you are feeling down alcohol tends to make you feel worse.
Alcohol is associated with a range of problems in Britain – including violent crimes, domestic abuse and road accidents and deaths.

Can you reduce the risks?
Drugs, including alcohol, can severely damage your physical and mental health. They can get you in to trouble with the law and even kill you.

Drink in moderation; use smaller amounts and don’t binge drink.
Avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs.
Never drink and drive and never get nto a car with a driver who has been drinking. Drinking and driving is illegal and costs lives.
Drink in a safe place. If you’re out, try to stick with mates whom you trust.
Avoid drinking if you’re feeling down. It’ll probably make you feel worse.
Never drink more than the recommended maximum daily intake guidelines – 2-3 units for adult females, 3-4 units for adult males.
Avoid drinking if you are under 18 years old.
Never mix alcohol with drugs.
Avoid mixing your drinks.
If you’re smaller than others, you will need less alcohol to get the same effect.
Always carry a condom; never risk unprotected sex.

First Aid

If a person taking drugs or alcohol collapses or appears to be in trouble, get help – call 999.
Get help to put them into the recovery position.
Tell the medics what they have taken and how much – IT COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE.

This information leaflet has been put together by: FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service, an initiative of the Gwent Council on Alcohol and Drug Misuse.

The information on this leaflet is correct at the time of going to press.

Contact details and links

Name: Dan 24/7 – Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline
Web: www.dan247.org.uk/
Email: On website.
Tel: 0800 6 33 55 88 (Freephone)
Text: ‘DAN’ to 81066
Info: A free and bilingual telephone drugs helpline providing a single point of contact for anyone in Wales wanting further information or help relating to drugs or alcohol.

Name: FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service
Web: www.fusion-online.org.uk/
Email: admin@fusion-online.org.uk
Tel: 0800 731 4649
Info: Fusion is a free and confidential service for anyone aged between 11 and 24 who lives in the Gwent area and is concerned about their own drinking or drug use, or that of a friend or family member. FUSION Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Service, an initiative of the Gwent Council on Alcohol and Drug Misuse.

Name: Talk to Frank
Web: www.talktofrank.com
Email: Online form (you don’t have to give a name)
Tel: 0800 77 66 00
Text: 82111
Info: The website offers a huge amount of info on all aspects of alcohol and drigs. The infoline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to offer FREE info on drugs. Set up by the UK government.

Name: NHS Direct Wales
Web: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
Tel: 0845 46 47
Info: NHS Direct Wales is a health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day.

Name: The Samaritans
Web: www.samaritans.org
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Info: Samaritans provides confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which could lead to suicide.

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Frank & Honest

Alcohol

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