Alcohol
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Why drink?
Some of the main reasons young people start to drink are:
- curiosity and experimentation
- to appear mature
By 14 or 15 young people say they drink to
- have fun and experience the buzz
- get drunk and experience losing control
- socialise with others - alcohol can break down boundaries
- enhance sex appeal.
Many plan to binge-drink and think that their friends approve of this.
|Back to topThe bad side to drinking - not just the hangover!
- Nearly half of household fires are caused by drinkers.
- 7% of drownings are linked with drinkers.
- Drinking increases the risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease or getting pregnant.
- About 1,000 children aged under-15 are admitted to hospital each year with acute alcohol poisoning.
- You are also more likely to get a criminal record.
- If you get completely wasted by bingeing on alcohol, you put a great strain on your liver and other parts of your body. It also makes you dehydrated.
- If you're into sport it can have big impact on your performance.
- If you carry on drinking too much over the years, there are all sorts of long-term risks to your health - you could even die earlier than expected!
If you get drunk on a regular basis, it may be worth asking your GP or local alcohol agencies for help.
|Back to topUseful websites
Want to find out more about alcohol? The check out the following:
| Name | How they can help |
|---|---|
| Alcohol Concern (external link) | National agency for alcohol misuse explains the harm caused and the services available to help |
| Down Your Drink (external link) | Advice on how much you can drink |
| New Directions (external link) | A site where people can swap ideas about how alcohol misuse can be prevented |
| Al Anon (external link) | Help for families and friends of alcoholics |
