Alcohol
Feeling Thirsty?
You might want to drink for a number of reasons, boredom, curiosity or seeing it on TV or because all your friends do it. At first it might help to make you feel relaxed and happy at first. But alcohol can also make you feel miserable, argumentative, aggressive, tired and low. This is because alcohol is a depressant. So although alcohol is sometimes used to deal with difficult emotions and to forget problems, it does not solve them and may increase feelings of anxiety or depression.
The alcoholic content is measured in units.
- One pint of strong beer, cider or lager can contain four or five units
- Home measures are usually much more generous than pub measures.
- The recommended limit is 3-4 units per day for men, 2-3 for women
As a young person your body is still growing and developing which means alcohol can affect you differently therefore children really shouldn’t drink at all before they’re 15. 15 to 17 year-olds should only be drinking once in a while and ideally no more than once a week.
If you regularly drink the maximum amount or binge at weekends, you could be damaging your health. However, there are times when even one or two drinks can be too much – for example if you are going to drive, operate machinery or if you are taking certain types of drugs.
When it comes to how much alcohol affects us we are all different; generally women are more at risk from the harmful effects of alcohol than men.
Log onto the following websites for information on the health harms of alcohol, to calculate units.
www.drinking.nhs.uk www.drinkaware.co.uk www.downyourdrink.org.uk www.alcoholconcern.org.uk contact@alcoholconcern.org.uk
Alcohol Concern is the national agency on alcohol misuse campaigning for effective alcohol policy and improved services for people whose lives are affected by alcohol-related problems
Drinkline - If you are concerned about your own or someone else's drinking 0800 917 8282
What is Drink Spiking? This is when alcohol or another drug is added to your drink without you knowing.
Why Does it Happen? People may spike your drink as a prank or with the intent of assaulting, robbing or sexually assaulting you. Spiking can be done to alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, resulting in you becoming drunk or drug affected unexpectedly. Your drink can be spiked with many things, including alcohol, and drugs such as GHB and Rohypnol.
What Are the Effects? You can become unconscious, not able to defend yourself, nor remember what happened.
What to do: NEVER leave your drink unattended. If you think your drink has been spiked, tell a friend, the bar or security staff, or the police immediately.
If you would like to talk to someone about your own or someone else’s drinking, the following national organisations can offer help and support.
Youth Access www.youthaccess.org.uk Email: admin@youthaccess.org.uk
Tel: 020 8772 9900 Youth Access have details on where you can find local counselling services
Alcoholic Anonymous www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk 0845 769 7555 24 hr confidential helpline for problem drinkers, details of local meetings available.
Alateen www.al-anonuk.org.uk/alateen 020 7407 0215 ring for local meetings Alateen provides support for teenage relatives and friends of alcoholics.
