Be drink aware
Thursday 21 December 2006
If you're a bit of a paerty animal, you might be tempted to have a drink or two.
Before you do, make sure you're aware of the full facts when drinking alcohol.
The law
The law says that you can't buy or drink alcohol unless you are at least 18 years of age. Getting someone to buy it for you is illegal too and you might be getting that person and the shop you buy it from into trouble.
There's an age limit on alcohol for a reason: it can be dangerous stuff and if you overdo it, you might pay a high price with your health.
Pressure from mates
Try not to feel pressurised into drinking alcohol. If someone else is trying to make you do something that they're already doing, they're probably not sure they want to do it themselves.
A true friend wouldn't want you to do anything against your will, so don't be sucked into feeling that you're letting anyone down by saying no.
Split personality
Drinking alcohol might alter the way you behave and you might find that you do things that you wouldn't do if you hadn't had a drink.
Some things might sound like a great idea when you've had a drink, but might not be if you were sober. Make sure your judgment isn't clouded.
Not only could you injure yourself, but if you had sex while drunk you might forget to use protection, exposing yourself to the risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection or becoming a parent before you're ready.
Watch yourself
If you don't want to experience the effects of drinking and remain on control then it's probably best not to drink at all, but if you are over 18 and do decide to drink, make sure you drink responsibly and don't put yourself and other at risk.
The effects of alcohol vary greatly between different people: it might make you happy, or bring you right down.
Some things to remember:
Units
Be aware of how many units you're drinking. If you overdo it, you'll feel ill and could be putting strain on your liver and other parts of your body. Mind Body & Soul can tell you more about units.
Pour your own
Make sure you're in control of how much you're drinking by pouring your own drinks. Other people might have different ideas of a 'small one' and they could be putting anything in your drink. If you're out, don't let anyone you don't know or trust buy a drink for you; you may ask for one certain drink but not get the one you were expecting.
Water
Drink plenty of it. Alternating every alcoholic drink with it is a good way of keeping hydrated. Once you start feeling the effects of alcohol, switch to soft drink or water; don't plough on with the booze.
In good company
If you're with mates, don't try and match them drink for drink. Everyone's tolerance to alcohol is different and drinking competitions will only make you overdo it. Make sure you're somewhere you feel safe and not surrounded by strangers. If you start to feel unwell after drinking, you're going to need your mates around you.
Finding out more
Alcohol information site Drink Aware has loads of information about the effects and the dangers of drinking. You can also test your knowledge of alcohol units and what they mean, keep a diary of your drinking habits and more.
