KNOW YOUR ALCOHOL LIMIT
Your BAC, (Blood Alcohol Concentration), is the number of milliliters of alcohol in 100 milliliters of your blood. Everyone has their own limit, as to when they will get drunk and when they may pass out. However the limit to how much alcohol you can have in your system when driving a car is a BAC of 0.05.
HOW TO STAY UNDER THE LIMIT
For Males:
For a male person consuming alcohol to stay under the limit they should consume only 2 standard drinks in the first hour and only 1 standard drink for every hour after the first one.
For Females:
For a female person consuming alcohol to stay under the legal limit they should consume only 1 standard drink per hour.
Your BAC, (Blood Alcohol Concentration), is the number of milliliters of alcohol in 100 milliliters of your blood. Everyone has their own limit, as to when they will get drunk and when they may pass out. However the limit to how much alcohol you can have in your system when driving a car is a BAC of 0.05.
HOW TO STAY UNDER THE LIMIT
For Males:
For a male person consuming alcohol to stay under the limit they should consume only 2 standard drinks in the first hour and only 1 standard drink for every hour after the first one.
For Females:
For a female person consuming alcohol to stay under the legal limit they should consume only 1 standard drink per hour.
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
SHORT TERM EFFECTS ON THE BODY CAN INCLUDE
LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THE BODY CAN INCLUDE
SHORT TERM EFFECTS ON THE BODY CAN INCLUDE
- Loss of co-ordination
- Blackouts
- Memory lapses
- Blurred vision
- Headache
- Breathing difficulty
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lack of concentration
- Unconsciousness
- Slower reflexes
- Decreased perception
- Slurred speech
LONG TERM EFFECTS ON THE BODY CAN INCLUDE
- Addiction
- Cancer
- Stroke and other heart related conditions
- Problems with the nervous system
- Skin problems
- Legal difficulties
- Nerve damage
- Brain damage
- Family and relationship problems
- Concentration problems
- Financial difficulties
HOW TO (not) SOBER UP
Myths about curing a hangover that just don't work.
DRINKING BLACK COFFEE
Drinking coffee or energy drinks does not cure hangovers, they just give the person a temporary energy lift, giving the false sense of being sober.
HAVING A HOT/COLD SHOWER
Having a very cold or very hot shower does not cure a hangover, it just shocks the person's body, and like caffeine, gives a false sense of being sober.
DRINK MORE ALCOHOL
Many people believe this will cure a hangover, however it is largely the placebo effect and enjoying the alcohol that encourages this myth. The person is simply ingesting more of what made them feel awful in the first place.
None of these myths actually cure a hangover or make you sober up. Only time, rest, and plenty of water cures a hangover.
Myths about curing a hangover that just don't work.
DRINKING BLACK COFFEE
Drinking coffee or energy drinks does not cure hangovers, they just give the person a temporary energy lift, giving the false sense of being sober.
HAVING A HOT/COLD SHOWER
Having a very cold or very hot shower does not cure a hangover, it just shocks the person's body, and like caffeine, gives a false sense of being sober.
DRINK MORE ALCOHOL
Many people believe this will cure a hangover, however it is largely the placebo effect and enjoying the alcohol that encourages this myth. The person is simply ingesting more of what made them feel awful in the first place.
None of these myths actually cure a hangover or make you sober up. Only time, rest, and plenty of water cures a hangover.
PARTIES
Many teenagers are introduced to alcohol at parties, where the main dangers are drink spiking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
STRATEGIES TO STAY SAFE AT A PARTY WHERE ALCOHOL IS PRESENT
1. Decide upon a designated driver before you go to the party, so you and your friends do not drive home drunk.
2. Be dropped off at the party, or carpool, so that you do not have to drive your car home drunk.
3. Know where you are and who you'll be with, so you are not alone or lost at any point.
4. Bring a condom just in case.
5. Have your phone on you, so that you are able to contact who you are going with and people back home.
STRATEGIES TO AVOID DRINK SPIKING
1. Hold your drink at all times.
2. Keep and eye on your drink at all times.
3. Do not leave your drink unattended, leave it with a trusted friend if need be.
4. Do not accept a drink if you have not seen it made or opened yourself.
5. Have your thumb over a bottled drink if dancing or talking.
Many teenagers are introduced to alcohol at parties, where the main dangers are drink spiking, and excessive alcohol consumption.
STRATEGIES TO STAY SAFE AT A PARTY WHERE ALCOHOL IS PRESENT
1. Decide upon a designated driver before you go to the party, so you and your friends do not drive home drunk.
2. Be dropped off at the party, or carpool, so that you do not have to drive your car home drunk.
3. Know where you are and who you'll be with, so you are not alone or lost at any point.
4. Bring a condom just in case.
5. Have your phone on you, so that you are able to contact who you are going with and people back home.
STRATEGIES TO AVOID DRINK SPIKING
1. Hold your drink at all times.
2. Keep and eye on your drink at all times.
3. Do not leave your drink unattended, leave it with a trusted friend if need be.
4. Do not accept a drink if you have not seen it made or opened yourself.
5. Have your thumb over a bottled drink if dancing or talking.
ALCOHOL RELATED DEATHS IN TEENAGERS
Almost 90% of Australian teenagers over 14 years old say that they have had more than a sip of alcohol before the age of 18, this shows a high prevalence and also a high danger, as 1 in 8 teenage deaths are linked to alcohol (as shown in the graph above). It is proven that not all teenagers know that there is a large risk when they consume alcohol, and I think that many teenagers would make better decisions if they were properly informed about the effects of alcohol.
Almost 90% of Australian teenagers over 14 years old say that they have had more than a sip of alcohol before the age of 18, this shows a high prevalence and also a high danger, as 1 in 8 teenage deaths are linked to alcohol (as shown in the graph above). It is proven that not all teenagers know that there is a large risk when they consume alcohol, and I think that many teenagers would make better decisions if they were properly informed about the effects of alcohol.
WHERE TO GET HELP FOR ALCOHOL ADDICTION
http://www.alcohol.gov.au/
Alcohol.gov is a government based website, that assists people who have issues with alcohol and gives phone numbers for help lines.
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/ds10
National health and Medical Research Council is a government based website that gives people access to valuable information on consuming alcohol. People are able to view two PDFs on Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol and Alcohol Frequently Asked Questions.
http://www.drinkwise.org.au/
Drink-wise is a non-government website that gives tips on how to avoid possibly dangerous alcohol related situations and assists readers in forming more informed and healthy lifestyles.
http://www.aa.org.au/
Alcoholics anonymous is a non-government website that gives advice on how to prevent and cure alcohol addiction and displays success stories of people who have succeeded in beating an alcohol addiction.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/alcohol-to-blame-for-one-in-eight-deaths---report/5102594
Blagg, R. The Blagg Law Firm, Myths. Blagglaw.com. Retrieved 17/5/14, from http://www.blagglaw.com/myths.html
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https://www.google.com.au/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi&ei=_3VoU_HCJofIkQWAj4HoDQ&ved=0CAQQqi4oAg
Australian Government. (n.d.). Harm Reduction. Retrieved 14/5/14, from
http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/vsu/pages/harmreduction.htm
Australian Government. (n.d.). Alcohol and Other Drugs. Retrieved 17/5/14, from http://www.nt.gov.au/health/healthdev/health_promotion/bushbook/volume2/chap1/aodp.htm
ABC News. (n.d.). One in eight deaths of young Australians attributable to alcohol: National Council on Drugs report. Retrieved 15/5/14, from
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-20/alcohol-to-blame-for-one-in-eight-deaths---report/5102594
Blagg, R. The Blagg Law Firm, Myths. Blagglaw.com. Retrieved 17/5/14, from http://www.blagglaw.com/myths.html
Drink standard sizes and mls. Retrieved 17/5/14, from http://www.myduiattorney.org/dui-tips/understanding-a-standard-drink.html