ALCOHOL

We all like to have a laugh and a good night out. Although you don't need alcohol to have a great time many young people choose to drink, most drink alcohol without experiencing serious harm or injury. But there can be risks for you if you are under the influence of alcohol.

• If you are in your early teens or younger, alcohol will affect you more because your body isn't fully-grown.
• The immediate effects of drinking can be: Nausea, vomiting, headaches and hangovers.
• It can also affect your mental health through: anxiety, insomnia, depression, attempted suicide, suicide.
• On a social level it can lead to: Criminal damage, unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, arguments with your partners or family and domestic violence.
• Female drinkers are affected even more due to biological differences between the sexes. Binge drinking is on the increase and is very bad for you.

Binge drinking is -?Any drinking session which involves the consumption of at least eight units of alcohol, if you are a man, or six, if you are a woman.' Binge drinking increases your risks of accident, getting injured as a result of a fight, damage your health and it has been linked to strokes, kidney damage, memory loss and an increased breast cancer risk in women.

Alcopops

Many alcopops have stronger alcohol content than beer, as they are very sweet it is difficult to taste and judge the alcohol content therefore they can be an easy introduction to alcohol for young people.

And now the science bit...

The alcohol content of drink is measured in units. One UK unit contains eight grams of pure alcohol.

The Government advises that men drink no more than three to four units in a day and women no more than two to three. In some situations, like pregnancy it is better not to drink at all, also some prescription drugs can react with alcohol.

1 unit of alcohol= half a pint of standard beer (alc 3.5%)

or: a 25ml serving of spirit (alc 40%)

or: half a 175ml glass of wine (alc 12%)

1 bottle of Alcopop with 5.2% alc. is 1.4 units!

If you are going to drink make sure you do so in a safe way for instance staying with your mates, not walking home alone and if you are getting a taxi ensure that it is licensed (this should be on display).

Spiking

Here are some tips to avoid you getting spiked when you are out and about and drinking. Remember that ALL drinks can be spiked not just the alcoholic ones!

• Let someone know where you're going and what time you expect to get home
• Avoid going out for the evening alone
• Remember that alcohol affects your reactions; you'll be less alert
• Never accept a drink from someone you don't know or if you do go to the bar with them
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Think carefully before going off with someone you've just met
• Plan your night out
• 11% of victims are male
• If your drink has been moved, looks topped up or tastes funny leave it and get another one.

Staying sober

The advantages of staying sober are you can:

• Look after your mates
• Get home safely and remember how you did it
• Not throw your guts up all night
• Not have a hangover the next day
• Make clear decisions
• Save money
• Drive (if you have a license) Drunk drivers face massive penalties
• Be fitter - regular, prolonged heavy drinking damages your muscle fibres
• Just be yourself - your true self.

The legal bit

There is no doubt about it - drinking is popular, and if the law says you're old enough to drink it is your choice. If you are below 16, you cannot buy alcohol in bars, clubs, restaurants or shops. At 16, you can buy wine, beer, cider or Perry in a restaurant. You cannot buy alcohol until you are 18 in an off-licence, supermarket or bar.

Problem drinker?

Check out the warning signs to see if you are drinking too much:

• Do you have to drink more and more to get the same effects as you used to?
• Do you often do things when you're drunk that you seriously regret afterwards?
• Do you miss appointments/ school/college because of hangovers?
• Do you drink in secret, or play down how much you drink?
• Do you think about alcohol and when your next drink will be?
• Do you get anxious if you can't get to a drink?
• Do you think you need a drink to be able to cope with certain situations?
• Do you drink to blank out your problems?

If some of these points sound familiar, then you may need to think about getting some help. Facing up to this takes guts, but you'll only get help if you ask. Check out the contracts at the end of the chapter for more info.