A+ | A-

Alcohol

Know your limits 

"Before I came for help I was always buzzing, I could not turn up for any appointments or school unless I was drunk.  Now I can get to school and my appointments without cannabis or alcohol, now I can look people in the face.  They work with me; I never feel they are judging me".

Alcohol is everywhere in our society, and because it’s legal and socially acceptable it’s easy to forget (especially when you’ve had a few) how dangerous a drug alcohol can be.

Each year in the UK up to 6,000 people die as a direct result of alcohol abuse. Liver trouble, heart disease and cancer are just a few of the problems that can arise from drinking too much.

Getting drunk might seem like fun, but it’s no fun for your friends and family when you’re too drunk to know what you’re doing. And hangovers, memory blackouts and accidents are a real possibility every time you get drunk.

Safe drinking levels

It is recommended that women should not drink more than 2-3 units of alcohol per day and males should not drink more than 3-4 units. This is what you can drink each day without get physical health problems.

You should try to rest from alcohol, as you will build up a tolerance that means you need more for that same feeling. Better still try not to drink for the effect that it gives you and try to enjoy the company that you are in.

You should not save up the units and drink it one go. Drinking excessive alcohol one night a week can be more dangerous than a lifetime of limited pure heroin use.

As a guide if you are drinking a 440 ml bottle or can:

  • 3% alcohol = 1.3 units
  • 5% alcohol = 2.25 units
  • 8% alcohol = 3.5 units

It’s easy to overdo your alcohol intake and you are advised to let your body recover from the drug - don't fall for the hair of the dog theory. However if you think that you have become physically addicted to alcohol it’s dangerous to just stop. Please see your doctor or talk to the agencies listed on this site.

Medical guidance on alcohol consumption

The Chief Medical Officer's Guidance on the Consumption of Alcohol by Children and Young People advises:

  • an alcohol-free childhood is the healthiest and best option - if children drink alcohol, it shouldn't be before they reach 15 years old
  • for those aged 15 - 17 years old all alcohol consumption should always be with the guidance of a parent or carer or in a supervised environment
  • parents and young people should be aware that drinking, even at age 15 or older, can be hazardous to health and not drinking is the healthiest option for young people. If children aged 15 - 17 consume alcohol they should do so infrequently and certainly on no more than one day a week
  • the importance of parental influences on children's alcohol use should be communicated to parents, carers and professionals. Parents and carers need advice on how to respond to alcohol use and misuse by children
  • support services must be available for children and young people who have alcohol related problems and their parents.

More than 10,000 children end up in hospital every year due to drinking and research tells us that 15 percent of young people think it is normal to get drunk at least once a week. They are putting themselves at risk of harm to the liver, depression and damage to the developing brain. Resulting social issues can lead to children and young people doing less well at school and struggling to interact with friends and family.'

Links