Alcohol Assembly

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Alcohol: Our Favourite Drug Alcohol is our favourite drug. Most of us use it for enjoyment, but for some of us, drinking can become a serious problem. In fact, alcohol causes much more harm than illegal drugs like heroin and cannabis. It is a tranquilliser, it is addictive, and is the cause of many hospital admissions for physical illnesses and accidents.

Problems with alcohol Many of these problems are caused by having too much to drink at the wrong place or time. Alcohol affects your judgment, so you do things you wouldn't normally think of. It makes you less aware of risks and so more vulnerable. You are more likely to have fights, arguments, money troubles, family upsets, or spur-of-the-moment casual sex. Alcohol helps to cause accidents at home, on the roads, in the water and on playing fields

Brain damage Binge drinking can cause blackouts, memory loss and anxiety. Long-term drinking can result in permanent brain damage, serious mental health problems and alcohol dependence or alcoholism Young people's brains are particularly vulnerable because the brain is still developing during their teenage years. Alcohol can damage parts of the brain, affecting behaviour and the ability to learn and remember.

Problems with alcohol - physical health Being very drunk can lead to severe hangovers, stomach pains (gastritis), vomiting blood, unconsciousness and even death. Drinking too much over a long period of time can cause liver disease and increases the risk of some kinds of cancer.

Problems with alcohol - mental health Although we tend to think of alcohol as something we use to make us feel good, heavy drinking can bring on depression. Many people who kill themselves have had drinking problems. Alcohol can stop your memory from working properly and can cause brain damage. It can even make you hear noises and voices - a very unpleasant experience which can be hard to get rid of.

The law Under 5 – It’s illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under 5 except in certain circumstances (e.g. under medical supervision). Under 14 - A person under 14 can't go into a bar or pub unless the pub has a 'children's certificate'. 14 or 15 – They can go anywhere in a pub but can't drink alcohol. 16 or 17 – They can buy (or be bought) beer or cider so long as it's bought to eat with a meal, but not in a bar (i.e. only in a place specifically set aside for meals). Under 18 – With the exception of having a meal in a pub, it's against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence or supermarket. It's also illegal to buy alcohol in a pub for someone who's not 18. Anyone over 18 can buy and drink alcohol legally in licensed premises in Britain.

Beer Street – v – Gin Lane (William Hogarth 1751)

Match the drinks answers: Drink 1 Large glass of Wine (250ml at 12%) Drink 2 Double Whiskey (50ml at 40%) Drink 3 Bottle of Lager (330ml at 5%) Drink 4 2 Pints of Bitter (568ml x2 at 4%) Drink 5 Can Super Strength Lager (440ml at 9%) Drink 6 2 Bottles of Alco pops (275ml x2 at 5%)

British teenagers among heaviest drinkers in Europe 60% of year olds drink alcohol – twice as much as in % of year olds have drunk more than 5 drinks on a single occasion in the past 30 days Alcohol consumption of girls now equal to boys

Should we be concerned? Alcohol Concern suggest that alcohol- related hospital admissions may rise to 1.5 million a year by the year 2015 Cost to the NHS will rise to £3.7 billion per year