Slang

Alcohol – Beer, Wine, Liquor, Booze, Brewskie, shots

To drink or become intoxicated – drunk, wasted, smashed, plastered, etc

How it works

When we drink, alcohol is absorbed quickly into the bloodstream, and carried to all body tissues. When it reaches the brain it impairs the brain’s activity, which affects how we function in many different ways.

Side effects

Usual effects of small doses of alcohol are euphoria, drowsiness, dizziness, blushing, and release of inhibitions and tensions. Larger doses produce slurred speech, staggering, double vision, and stupor. As more alcohol reaches the brain, memory, concentration and co-ordination all become weaker. The more we drink, the more likely we are to say or do things we would not normally do and may regret later. In combination with other drugs, small doses of alcohol may produce exaggerated effects. Very large doses can cause death by blocking the brain’s control over respiration.

Long term effects

Regular consumption may gradually bring about liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, certain types of cancer, blackouts (loss of memory), impotence, reproductive problems, ulcers and disorders of the pancreas. Chronic heavy use can result in disruptions of the drinker’s social, family and working life. Pregnant women who drink excessively may have babies with alcohol related birth defects such as pre or postnatal developmental and growth delays, learning and behavioural disorders and other physical abnormalities.

Alcoholism is another long term effect that some people may experience. People who inappropriately misuse alcohol and are dependent on it, are deemed as being an alcoholic. Alcohol becomes heavily involved in their day-to-day lives and most people with an alcohol disorder cannot go a day without drinking – it consumes their entire world. Because of this disease, people may encounter health, social, family and financial problems. Alcohol abuse occurs when there are consistent negative effects and consequences from one’s drinking. These individuals often need medical and psychological treatment (Canadian Psychological Association).

Binge drinking

Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more alcoholic beverages in one night. One drink can be defined as 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine or 1 1/2 ounces of 80-proof distilled.

When too much alcohol is consumed too fast, alcohol acts as a poison. When someone drinks too much alcohol, their body passes out in order to stop them from drinking more. But if too much alcohol has already been consumed, they may already have alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning is very dangerous because alcohol depresses the nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing, the heart beat and the gag reflex (prevents choking). Someone who drinks too much can easily choke on their own vomit. A fatal dose of alcohol can even stop the heart, causing death.

Signs of alcohol poisoning

You should call an ambulance if:

• You are unable to wake someone who has passed out from drinking too much
• A drunk person starts vomiting in their sleep
• They start to have seizures
• There is no response from a passed out person when you pinch their skin
• Their breathing is very slow – less than 8 breaths a minute
• Their breathing is irregular – 10 seconds or more between breaths.

If you suspect that someone has ingested a fatal amount of alcohol, call 911 immediately. Stay with the victim. Try to prevent them from choking on their vomit by using the Bacchus Maneuver to put them in the recovery position.

Tips on safe drinking

• You should never drink on a dare or attempt to see how much you can drink.
• Never compete in “chugging contests” or other contests to see who can drink the most liquor.
• Pace your drinking and allow time between drinks.
• Consider alternating non-alcoholic drinks with those containing alcohol, ie. drinking plain orange juice, pop or water every other drink.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach: foods with fats and/or proteins slow alcohol absorption.

Impaired driving

Impaired driving can be defined as operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. According to Statistics Canada, almost three-quarters (73%) of court cases involving impaired driving result conviction and of these, 14% are sentenced to custody.

• In a 2005 survey, 6.7 percent of drivers said they had driven in the past year when they felt they were over the legal limit. That translates into 1.5 million drivers and over 7.8 million trips (Canada Safety Council).
• The vast majority of young drinking drivers die, or are seriously injured in crashes at night and/or on the weekend (MADD).
• Of all the young drinking drivers who are killed or seriously injured, the smallest proportion is 16 years of age. The largest proportion is 19 years of age (MADD).

Facts

• There is no magic number for how many drinks you can have before you are intoxicated. Each of the following contains the same amount of alcohol: 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine, 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (Alberta Health Services).
• How we react to alcohol depends on several factors including: our body weight, whether we have taken other drugs, what we have eaten that day, how much alcohol we have consumed and our mood at the time (Alberta Health Services).
• Many people believe that a cold shower or a cup of coffee will sober up an intoxicated person quickly. This is not true. The only thing that will make a drunk person sober is time. The liver needs time to burn and eliminate the alcohol. It takes up to 2 hours for your body to get rid of the effects of one drink (Alberta Health Services).
• Alcohol is involved in 30 to 40% of drownings, fires and falls that result in injury (Algonquin College Alcohol & Drug Awareness).
• 25% of Canadians ages 12 – 19 binge drink more than 12 times a year (BC Centre for Social Responsibility)
• Alcohol is involved in 54% of convicted assault, murder and attempted murder cases in Ontario (Algonquin College Alcohol & Drug Awareness).

Laws

Offences relating to underage drinking include possessing, consuming, purchasing, and attempting to purchase or otherwise obtain liquor outside of the home. In some jurisdictions, a parent or guardian may legally supply liquor at home to an underage person, but others supplying liquor or selling liquor to a minor are committing an offence. The age at which young people are allowed to drink in Canada is regulated by legislation in each province and territory. Currently, in all provinces and territories with exception of Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta, the drinking age is 19 years. In Quebec, Manitoba and Alberta, the drinking age is 18 years.

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle (car, truck, boat, ski-doo,etc.) while under the influence of alcohol. The level of alcohol in the blood is measured by the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). According to the Canadian Criminal Code, the BAC must be below 0.08% in order to operate a motor vehicle. However, you can be convicted of impaired driving any time you are driving while impaired – even if your BAC is below the legal limit. In many provinces, new drivers or drivers without their full licenses are required to have a BAC of 0%. If caught diving with any alcohol in their bloodstream, these drivers can have their permits revoked. Punishment for impaired driving offences range from fines and license suspensions to prison terms.

Where to go for help

If you would like more information about alcohol and its effects, talk to your doctor or school counselor or check out the following links:

Links

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – Evaluate Your Drinking
It’s not candy
There is Help. There is Hope. – Information about Alcohol and Depression
PARTY – Prevents Alcohol Related Trauma in Youth
MADD– Mothers Against Drunk Driving
SADD Alberta—Students Against Drunk Driving, Alberta chapter
OSAID—Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving
Canadian Safety Council
Teens Against Drinking and Driving (TADD)
Evaluate your drinking
Centre for Science in the Public Interest – Binge Drinking Blows
Canada Safety Council – Targeting Young Binge Drinkers
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
University of Alberta – Balancing Books and Booze