This document summarizes information about alcohol, including its short-term and long-term effects on the body and health risks. It also discusses alcohol tolerance, legal drinking ages in different countries, common drinks and their alcohol content, hangovers, and tips to prevent or treat hangovers.

1. ALCOHOL

2. About BOOZE Alcohol is seen by many as a more socially acceptable drug Talktofrank.com It exaggerates what ever mood you had when you started drinking Happy to very happy or sad to angry In moderation alcohol can be seen as a relaxant Makes you feel less anxious and more sociable In the UK, 1 unit is defined as 10ml of pure ethanol This takes a whole hour to leave your body

3. Short term IN FIVE STEPS 1 More talkative, sociable and generally happier. 1-3Units Light headed, reactions and co-ordination impairs. 2 4-6 Units Reactions much slower, vision is blurred and speech is slurred. 3 7-9 Units Staggering and bumping into things. . 4 10+ Units Unconscious. 5 30 + Units

4. Long term Your chances of suffering these diseases increase if you regularly exceed your daily or weekly alcohol limits on a regular basis for some years. Cancer Mouth, throat, oesophagus, larynx, and breast. Liver Cirrhosis and liver cancer. Brain Depression, memory loss, brain damage, dementia and stroke. Heart Heart disease and heart attacks. Stomach Stomach damage and cancer.

5. Liver Damage This is one of the many long term effects of excessive alcohol intake. Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver that involves the formation of scar tissue destroying the normal shape and function of the liver. It is most common in alcohol cases. It is a serious condition and only 30% of patients will survive up to 5 years after diagnosis = even worse if carries on drinking. The more alcohol a person drinks, the more likely they are to develop cirrhosis. This shows how serious the damage can be.

6. Damage Drinking during pregnancy can cause damage to yourself and your unborn baby. The picture below shows foetal alcohol syndrome, 1 in 750 babies in the US suffer from this syndrome. The picture clearly shows poor development of the brain which has the symptoms of: -Epilepsy -Poor coordination/fine motor skills -Poor socialization skills -Learning difficulties -Behavioural problems - As this is a syndrome, there is no cure. - These problems get worse as they grow older. These are only the mental problems there are physical problems too. Alcohol doesn’t only damage you, but damages others along with you.

8. Tolerance Lightweight or Heavyweight? Have you ever witnessed someone being called a ‘light weight’? Its a GOOD thing! You could say it is better for your body Tolerance does not protect you from harm. = DRUNK! = DRUNK! The lightweight. The heavyweight. Drinking more units = More damage to body By drinking less you will cause less damage. 3.71 units 9.9 units

9. The law The UK law is 18 UNDER 14 14-15 YEARS 16-17 YEARS 18+ Are not allowed into a pub unless it has a child certificate . They can go anywhere in a pub but can't drink alcohol. They can buy cider or beer BUT with a meal. Can drink and buy alcohol legally but cannot provide to anyone younger.

10. Europe There are different drinking ages all over Europe. Russia: 18 Greece: 17 Italy: 16 Spain:18 UK: 18 Portugal:16 Denmark: 16 Iceland: 20

11. What is what? Baileys 17% 1l = 17 Units 70cl = 11.9 Units 50ml = 0.85 Units Strongbow 4.5% 1l = 4.5 Units 500ml = 2.25 Units Pint = 2.56 units WKD 4.5% 275ml = 1.24 Units 70cl = 3.15 Units Smirnoff Vodka 37.5% 70cl = 26.25 Units 35cl = 13.13 Units 30ml = 1 Units Fosters 4% Pint = 2.27 Units Half pint = 1.14 Units 500ml = 2 Units Wine 14% 75cl = 10.5 Units Large glass = 3.5 Units Small glass = 1.75Units Jack Daniels Whisky 40% 70cl = 28 Units 35cl = 14 Units 30ml = 1 Units

12. Hangover What is a hangover? A hangover is a result of the night before drinking habits . The most common symptoms of this are: -Sickness -Headache -Spinning room Causes? Of course the main cause is – drinking too much alcohol! Dehydration, main cause of the headache Lack of sleep, no energy as helping organs recover Damage of stomach lining = sick and/or nausea www.bbc.co.uk/health Prevention? How to avoid a hangover Before you go out Eat a good fatty meal Drink a glass of milk While partying Alternate water or non-fizzy soft drinks with alcoholic ones Avoid fizzy drinks Don't drink to excess Before going to bed Drink lots of water or a sports drink Take vitamin C Eat toast Walk in the fresh air

13. Drinking links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYNxTR9zpTU&feature=related