Alcohol
Slang
Booze, sherbets, bevies, wide variety of brand names.
Description
A depressant. Drinks consist of water and ethanol, produced by the fermentation of fruits, vegetables or grains. The strength of alcoholic drinks is shown on the label by a number followed by 'Alcohol % vol', or '% ABV', (Alcohol By Volume). The higher the percentage, the stronger the drink. Units are also used to compare the amount of alcohol in different drinks.
A unit is equivalent to 8 grams or 10 ml of pure alcohol. And one unit is equivalent to half a pint of ordinary beer or lager, a small glass of wine or a single pub measure of spirits (25ml). In moderation, alcohol can be beneficial. For example, after the menopause thee is evidence that drinking one or two units a day can protect against the risk of coronary heart disease. And for men aged 40 and over thee is evidence that drinking one or two units a day can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Possible short-term indicators
- Users can feel more relaxed, cheerful and less anxious.
- Users can become less inhibited, more talkative.
- As more is consumed they lose their self-control and reactions, judgment, co-ordination, and ability to reason are all impaired.
- Speech becomes slurred and vision becomes blurred, and the chance of accidents increases sharply.
- Eventually users can pass out and run the risk of choking if they vomit.
- Users may have the smell of alcohol on the breath.
- During a hangover a user may experience headaches, irritability, tiredness, lethargy. Some people will have more intense hangovers than others.
Possible longer-term indicators
- In large or prolonged use: increased risk of strokes, liver disease, high blood pressure, infertility, diseases of the nervous system.
- Approximately 40,000 UK deaths per year are directly related to alcohol. Many more deaths are associated with alcohol related accidents.
- Moderate drinking (i.e. 2-3 units or so a day) for those over the age of 40 seems to reduce the chance of a heart attack.
For information about family alcohol problems, click here
Harm reduction
- Limit daily intake to 4 units for adult men and 3 units for adult women.
- Don't use alcohol and other drugs together.
- Don't drink excessively at any one time.
- Know your limit and stick to it.
- Don't drink and drive, or use machinery whilst under the influence.
Consequences of binge drinking video aimed at young people
| A series of adverts warning 18- to 24-year-olds about the consequences of binge-drinking has recently been launched by the Home Office. One shows a young man ripping out his earring, smashing a wardrobe door in his face, urinating on his shoes and pouring a takeaway meal down his shirt while getting ready to go out. Click on the video to play. |
Legal status
Covered by the Alcohol and the Licensing Act 1964 and Children and Young Persons Act 1933
Alcohol cannot be sold without a licence. The legal sale and consumption of alcohol varies according to age, and is summarised in the following table.
| Age | The law |
| under 5 | It is illegal to give an alcohol drink to a child under 5 except in certain circumstances e.g. under medical supervision. |
| under 14 | A young person under 14 cannot go into the bar of a pub unless the pub has a 'children's certificate'. If it does not have one, they can only go into parts of licensed premises where alcohol is EITHER sold but not DRUNK (e.g. an off license) OR drunk but not sold (e.g. a garden or family room). |
| 14 or 15 | 14 and 15 year olds can go anywhere in a pub, but cannot drink alcohol. |
| 16 or 17 | 16 and 17 year olds can buy (or be bought) beer or cider as an accompaniment to a meal, but not in a bar (i.e. only in an area specifically set aside for meals). |
| under 18 | Except for 16 or 17 year olds having a meal in a pub (see above), it is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-license, supermarket or other outlet; or for anyone else to buy alcohol in a pub for someone who is under 18. |