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What is alcohol?
Alcohol is made up of water, sugars and other substances like congeners (these
are chemicals which give darker drinks their colour and are the main cause
of hangovers) and ethyl alcohol (chemical name for alcohol). It is made by
the fermentation of sugars - alcohol and carbon dioxide are by-products. Alcohol
gives drinks their strength and the carbon dioxide gives drinks such as champagne
its fizz and beer its head. |
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Is alcohol a drug?
Yes. Initially, alcohol is a stimulant, increasing brain activity and reducing
inhibitions. More than 1 or 2 units and alcohol works as a depressant. It modifies
the functions of the brain; it depresses the central nervous system; slowing
down the way the brain relays messages to the rest of the body. Memory and
co-ordination are affected. |
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Alcohol
measurements - and what does that mean to you and me?
Alcohol
is measured in units. One unit of alcohol is equal to 1cl or 10ml pure
alcohol by volume.
1 unit of alcohol = 1/2 pint of ordinary strength beer, lager or cider
Ordinary strength = around 3.5% ABV (alcohol by volume). Most premium
lagers are about 5%, ie Stella or Kronenbourg. This means that 1/2
pint equals 1.5 units.
Cans (440mls) of extra strength lager at 9%, such as Tennents Super or Special
Brew, equal 4 units
25ml pub measure of spirits (40% ABV)
This includes whisky, vodka, brandy, rum and gin.
50ml pub measure of sherry, port or vermouth
125ml glass of 9% ABV wine
However, most wines that are sold today are higher than 9%. Dry white wines
usually vary between 11% and 13%. Red wines start at 12% and can go up to
14%. Remember
that pubs sell wine in 175ml glasses or even larger. So, in fact, a glass
of wine could be 1.5 or 2 units.
Designer drinks
Hooch, Barcardi Breezers, Metz or Smirnoff Ice are between 4.5%
and 6% so a bottle could be between 1.5 and 2 units.
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What is the safe level of units per person per week?
The recommended units per person on a daily basis is:
2-3 units for women
3-4 units for men
However, everyone should aim to have two alcohol free days per week and not to
consume the whole unit allowance in one session. If this type of alcohol consumption
became a regular occurrence then this would be classed as binge drinking. Older
and younger people are affected more quickly by alcohol than the normal average
healthy adult.
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What happens to the alcohol I drink?
Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach wall and it will reach
the brain within about five minutes. If you drink on an empty stomach or add
a fizzy drink, the alcohol will be absorbed faster. If you have eaten, it will
slow down the rate at which alcohol takes effect. The liver is the organ which
processes the alcohol and is very susceptible to damage. If it is busy eliminating
alcohol, its ability to carry out its other functions is impaired. |
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How long does it take to get rid of
one unit of alcohol?
It takes one hour for one unit to be processed and eliminated. No amount of physical
exercise will speed up the process, only time. However, if your liver is not
functioning normally it will take longer for this process to occur. |
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What about alcohol and sex?
Because it is a depressant drug, alcohol can change your normal behaviour. You
may take risks that under other circumstances you would not do - especially
around dating and sex: - 1 in 5 16-24 year olds had sex they later regretted and 1 in 10 were
unable to remember if they had sex the night before
- 41% of women have had at least one drunken one-night stand
- 40% of 13 and 14 year olds were drunk or 'stoned' when they first had
sexual intercourse
If you are regularly going out and having sex with different men/women there
is an increased risk in getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as: - genital warts
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea (this is on the increase with young people)
When they are drunk, people do not remember to use a condom or they are more
likely to take the risk. It only takes one sexual episode with
someone to develop
a sexually transmitted disease or to become pregnant.
It is also important to remember that drinking too much can make you vomit. Girls
- it may make you look like you are one of the lads when you drink as much as
them or even more. However, when you have your head down the toilet after
a good night out, your body will also be getting rid of the contraceptive pill
as well. This puts you at a higher risk of pregnancy if you do not use another
form of contraception. |
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What about alcohol and infertility?
Persistent drinking in men and women produces lasting sexual changes as a result
of the toxic effect of alcohol on the testes and the ovaries.
In men, alcohol reduces sperm production and may eventually lead to a shrinking
of the testes and penis, chronic impotence and damage to sperm. Both impotence
and sperm count can improve when heavy drinking stops.
In women, heavy consumption of alcohol may reduce the female hormones important
to fertility. |
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What about alcohol and pregnancy?
It is important for women and girls to be aware of the effects that alcohol may
have on:
- the conception
- the pregnancy
- the baby
- Women should try to reduce their alcohol consumption before trying
to get pregnant
- One or more alcoholic drinks per day in the first three months of
pregnancy may increase the risk of spontaneous abortion
- The foetus may also be affected by alcohol in the first three
months because this is when the foetus is developing and being formed
- This is why it is important to stop or reduce your alcohol consumption
prior to conception, as some women will not know they are pregnant immediately
- It is far safer not to drink alcohol prior to conception and during
the pregnancy.
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Will alcohol have permanent effects on the baby?
Binge drinking may have a more adverse affect on the foetus than drinking the
same amount spread over the week. Women who are heavy drinkers whilst pregnant
may have a low birth weight baby. They may also have babies with birth defects
due to alcohol consumption, including facial abnormalities and impaired physical
or mental development. |
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What about drinking and driving?
Alcohol has an affect on our central nervous system and this then can affect
our co-ordination and judgement. When we drive we need all our skills to
enable us to be safe on today’s busy roads.
- The legal limit for driving is 80mgms in blood or 35mgms in
breath
- In units, this is equivalent to 5 units of alcohol. This is
not as simple as two pints, because the majority of beers and
wines are stronger than the standard strength
- You may have to take into account that you may have had a
drink at lunchtime and then a pint after work
- You could be over the legal limit for driving but feel all
right.
Most drivers who have a drink during an evening at home or in the pub do
not realise they could be over the legal limit for driving when they leave
for work the next morning. It takes one hour for 1 unit of alcohol to be
processed. So one pint could take two to two-and-a-half hours. If a driver
has had 7 pints the night before, it could take as long as 17 or 18 hours
to clear their system.
So how do you gauge the safe limit for driving? – you can’t.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
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What are the signs someone may have a problem with drinking?
You could have a drinking problem if:
- You are angry when other people mention or discuss your drinking
- Other people tell you they are worried about your drinking
- You need alcohol around
- You have to increase the amount you drink in order to feel the
effect, or increase the frequency of your drinking
- You feel sick, have the shakes - however slight, or sweat in
the morning or in the middle of the night
- You get into trouble because of your drinking, ie drinking and
driving, trouble at work either with work performance or if you
are taking Fridays or Mondays off sick on a regular basis etc.
Do not feel that you are alone in the way you are using alcohol - 1 in 25
people develop a problem around their alcohol use at some time in their life.
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