Alcohol
Have all the information on Alcohol and its effects on your body....Be aware!
The more alcohol you drink the greater your risk of causing all kinds of damage to your body, so starting drinking at a younger age will increase your chances of damaging your body....
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead have a drug and alcohol information, advice and treatment centre for both adults and young people around the borough called T2. To contact T2, ring 01628 683260 or visit them at Sands Court, Grove Road, Maidenhead SL5 1LW.
For more information on Alcohol check out-
Drink Aware
The Site
Or call Drinkline on 0800 9178282
The Numbers Game....
Over 2,000 under 14's are admitted to hospital each year with alcohol related health issues
29% of 12-17 year olds involved in any form of anti-social behaviour had been drinking
10 - 17 year olds who drink alcohol once a week are more likely to be involved in a criminal offence
Every year, 22% of accidental deaths are alcohol related
47% of all victims of violence said their attacker was affected by alcohol at the time
In 2007, 6,541 deaths in England were directly related to alcohol, many due to liver problems
Your liver can only break down 1 unit of alcohol an hour, so if you drink heavily the night before, you may still be over the legal drink drive limit the next morning
Know your Limit....
- One Shot = One Unit = 84 calories or 1 Chocolate Digestive
- Alcopops (WKD etc) 1.6 Units = 200 calories or 1 Cadbury's Crunchie Bar
- Vodka and Coke = 2 Units = 130 calories or 1 bag of Malteasers
- Glass of Wine (standard glass, 175 ml) = 2.1 Units = 130 calories or 1 bag of Malteasers
- Pint of Beer, Lager or Cider = 2-2.5 Units = between 170 and 400 calories or 1 Cadbury's Crème Egg to 4 Chocolate Hob Nobs
The Legal Stuff
- It is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol
- At any age, it is illegal to buy alcohol for a person under 18
- If you're 16 or over (and with an adult) you can drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in a restaurant
- If the police find someone under 18 in possession of alcohol, they have the power to confiscate it
- It's illegal to drink and drive, if you do, you could be faced with a fine, six months in prison and have your license taken away
Top 10 Tips... Play it safe.
- Make sure you eat before drinking
- Don't mix your alcoholic drinks
- Don't mix alcohol with drugs/medicine
- Don't leave your drinks unattended
- Don't accept drinks from strangers
- Only use licensed taxis
- Keep hydrated by drinking water/soft drinks
- Keep track of how many units you're drinking
- Don't walk home alone
- Stop when you've had too much......
Other tips:
Use mixers to dilute your alcohol and make your drinks last longer
Drink smaller drinks for example halves, a small glass or a single instead
Avoid rounds or skip some rounds by drinking more slowly
Avoid 'top-ups' which make it easy to lose track of how much you're drinking
Are you drinking too much? Ask yourself why?
Are you drinking…?
- To make yourself feel more confidence and overcome shyness
- To cope with or block out stress
- To get drunk and do things you normally wouldn't
- Because your social life revolves around drinking with your mates
- Because it has become a habit
If you can't have fun without a drink, you may have a problem and T2 can help on 01628 683260.
When things go wrong…
If you drink an extremely large amount of alcohol, you could die. Alcohol can cause your brain function to be depressed to the extent that your body can wind down until you heart stops.
Alcohol also irritates the stomach making you more likely to be sick. Vomiting while unconscious or in a deep sleep runs the real risk of choking to death.
If you drink regularly, all of the following could affect you:
- Passing out
- Having your drink spiked
- Weight gain
- Liver damage and heart disease
- Depression or anxiety
- Reduced fertility
- High blood pressure
- Increased risk of various cancers
- Forgetfulness.
When you're drunk you're more likely to expose yourself to the following:
- Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- Under Age Sex or Teenage Pregnancy
- Sexual Attacks or Violent Assaults
- Robbery
- Accidents
- Drug Taking
Getting drunk doesn't just affect you; you can also hurt others through
- Aggressive Behaviour, like getting into fights
- Drink Driving
- Crime and Disorder, such as vandalism
Alcohol and Drugs
Mixing drugs with alcohol is potentially lethal. The effects when taken together can be very different from when they're taken on their own and results are always unpredictable. A good experience in the past doesn't mean your reaction will be the same again.
Stimulant drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy and amphetamines when taken with alcohol can cause a rise in blood pressure, resulting in a risk of stroke and heart attack. In the case of ecstasy it can also lead to dehydration.
Depressants such as heroin, ketamine and tranquillisers when taken with alcohol can cause extreme drowsiness and you could fall into a deep sleep. If you're then sick, there's a real chance that you'll choke on your vomit.
Mixing GHB with alcohol can be fatal.
What to do in an emergency
- If someone you are with collapses due to drink or drugs, don't leave them alone
- Dial 999
- Check their mouth is clear and that they can breathe
- Turn them onto their side and place them in the recovery position
- Keep them warm
- Watch them
