This document discusses the effects of alcohol and smoking on sports performance. It identifies alcohol and smoking as socially acceptable drugs, while illegal drugs like cannabis and ecstasy are socially unacceptable. Alcohol can slow reaction times and dull senses, increasing risks of injury. It is banned from most sports. Smoking reduces lung capacity and the ability to take in oxygen, negatively impacting fitness. Both alcohol and smoking have short-term and long-term negative effects on an athlete's health and performance.

1. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol and smoking 1
Alcohol and smoking

2. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol and smoking 2
What you will learn about
in this topic:
1. Socially acceptable drugs
2. Socially unacceptable drugs
3. The effects of alcohol and
smoking on sports performance

3. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol and smoking 3
Learning objectives
By the end of this presentation you
should be able to:
•Understand the effects of drugs on
sports performance
•Describe which drugs are socially
acceptable and unacceptable
•Explain how drugs affect sports
performance

4. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Socially acceptable drugs
Drugs are substances that affect the
normal physiological and
psychological functioning of the
body.
Alcohol and smoking 4

5. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
There are both legal (acceptable)
and illegal (unacceptable) types of
drugs.
Alcohol and smoking are considered
to be socially acceptable drugs.
Alcohol and smoking 5

6. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol
Alcohol and smoking 6
Alcohol can be a
sedative, meaning
reactions will be
slower and judgement
can be impaired. It
masks pain, which
can lead to increased
injury.

7. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol also increases swelling and
heat loss and gives a greater risk of
muscle cramps.
The effects of alcohol depend on
your age, weight and gender, but
binge drinking or frequently drinking
large quantities can have a
detrimental effect on your health.
Alcohol and smoking 7

8. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Effects of alcohol
Alcohol is harmful to a
sportsperson’s performance:
1. Reaction times are slowed down
so performers could mistime
passes or tackles.
Alcohol and smoking 8

9. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
2. The sedative effect calms the
nerves of a performer but also
dulls their senses and can result
in injury or rule breaking.
3. Long-term alcohol over-use can
lead to other problems, such as
addiction and liver disease.
Alcohol and smoking 9

10. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Alcohol is banned from most sports
as it can have a harmful effect on
the performer, especially if
equipment is involved.
Alcohol and smoking 10

11. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
The government has set out
recommendations for a person’s
daily intake of alcohol based on
units: men should have no more
than three or four units per day
whilst women should have no more
than two or three.
Each alcoholic drink has a different
alcohol content so the size of a unit
depends on the particular drink.
Alcohol and smoking 11

12. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Task 1
1. Using the Internet, research how
many units of alcohol is the
recommended allowance per
week.
2. In a group, plan and perform a
30-second radio advert to the
rest of the class to promote
sensible drinking.
Alcohol and smoking 12

13. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Smoking
Alcohol and smoking 13
Smoking is legal
but is becoming
less socially
acceptable.

14. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Nicotine (the drug in cigarettes)
affects the body by stimulating the
brain to release noradrenaline,
which usually happens in times of
stress.
Smoking is bad for you because it:
Alcohol and smoking 14
•Raises your pulse rate and your
blood pressure
•Shrinks your veins

15. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
•Contains carbon monoxide, which
inhibits the blood’s ability to carry
oxygen
•Can lead to diseases such as lung
cancer.
Alcohol and smoking 15

16. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Task 2
Smoking
acceptable or unacceptable?
Write down reasons for and against
smoking and discuss your thoughts
with a partner.
Alcohol and smoking 16

17. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Effects of smoking
Smoking is harmful to a
sportsperson’s performance:
•The ability of lungs to take oxygen
from the air is reduced.
•Tar collects in the lungs, which
can affect breathing.
Alcohol and smoking 17

18. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
•Smoking raises the pulse rate and
so makes the heart work faster.
Blood vessels then contract,
raising the blood pressure and
causing a sensation of cold.
Smoke contains carbon monoxide
so when it enters the blood
stream it reduces the red blood
cells’ ability to transport oxygen.
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19. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
•Tobacco contains nicotine, which
is addictive.
•Smoke contains carbon monoxide
and when this enters the blood
stream it reduces the red blood
cells’ ability to transport oxygen.
As a result, fitness levels are
reduced.
Alcohol and smoking 19

20. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Socially unacceptable drugs
Alcohol and smoking 20
Illegal drugs
such as
cannabis,
ecstasy and
LSD are socially
unacceptable.

21. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Illegal drugs such as these are used
recreationally, taken for the
‘pleasurable’ reaction people can get
from them.
However, they are illegal because
they are detrimental to your health,
and can lead to long-term health
problems, even death.
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22. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Exam questions
1. What problems could an
athlete develop from drinking
too much alcohol?
2. How does smoking affect an
athlete’s performance in the
short term?
Alcohol and smoking 22

23. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
What you have learnt
in this topic:
1. Socially acceptable drugs
2. Socially unacceptable drugs
3. The effects of alcohol and
smoking on sports performance
Alcohol and smoking 23

24. © Folens 2009
FOR EDEXCEL 1.2.1c Physical activity and your healthy mind and body
Learning objectives
You should now be able to:
•Understand the effects of drugs on
sports performance
•Describe which drugs are socially
acceptable and unacceptable
•Explain how drugs affect sports
performance
Alcohol and smoking 24