Alcohol

What is alcohol?

Fermentation of fruit

or grain mixtures

Chemical modification

of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or coal (industrial alcohol)

Chemical combination

of hydrogen with carbon monoxide (methanol or wood alcohol)

Alcohol provides a lot of kilojoules

Each gram of pure alcohol provides 7 calories=29 kilojoules

1 serve contains at least 290 kJs

Add 100 ML cola = 220 kJs One rum and coke

at least 510 KJs

Definition

Alcohol is: A depressant drug It is also a “food”, provides kilojoules and is only

metabolised by the liver This makes alcohol a little different to other drugs Slows down the activity in the central nervous

system including the brain. Affects concentration and coordination Slows the response time to unexpected situations.

Blood alcohol level

The liver can only metabolise 10 grams of alcohol per hour

Less for “small” people eg girls

1 drink per hour Nothing speeds

this rate up

Myths about alcohol

Myth: Alcohol gives you energy

Myth: Mixing drinks will make you more drunk than sticking to one type of drink

Myth: You'll get drunk a lot quicker with spirits than with a beer or wine cooler

Myth: Everybody reacts the same to alcohol

Myth: A cold shower or a cup of coffee will sober someone up

Myth: It's just beer. It can't permanently damage you

Myths about alcohol

Myth: It's none of my business if a friend is drinking too much

Myth: The worst thing that can happen is a raging hangover

Myth: Drugs are a bigger problem than alcohol

Myth: Alcohol makes you more sexy

Myth: People who drink too much only hurt themselves.

USE THESE TO MAKE CLASS DISCUSSION CARDS

What are some Myths about sobering up ??

Cold shower Walk around Dance Vomit Sleep Coffee Various products

Serious problems with alcohol

Date rape Risk to self Accidents Violence Drink spiking

Some Facts about use of alcohol in Australia In 2004 10% of Australians adults were non

drinkers (never had a full drink) Used to be 25% in women In 2004 84% of those older than 14 years had

drunk alcohol in previous 12 months Alcohol patterns have stayed fairly stable, yet

tobacco has declined 35% Australians are risky drinkers eg binge

drinking This has increased, especially in teenage girls Mean age of initiation into drinking alcohol

(drinking a full glass) among young people aged 14-24 years was 14.6 years for males and 14.8 years for females

Health Guidelines

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian alcohol guidelines suggest that:

Men should drink an average of no more than 4 standard drinks a day and no more than 6 standard drinks on any one day.

Women should drink an average of no more than 2 standard drinks a day and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day.

Pregnant women - none

Health guidelines

Both men and women should spread their drinks over several hours, and have one or two alcohol – free days per week

Young people aged 18-25 years should not drink at all for at least several hours before undertaking potentially risky activities (e.g. driving, swimming and boating) and not mix alcohol with mood-altering drugs

Young people aged up to 18 years, if they choose to drink, should be under adult supervision, keep drinking to a minimum, and not drink to become intoxicated.

Foetal alcohol Syndrome

How did alcohol and tobacco become so popular???

Marketing TV ads Sponsorships Social “norms”

What message is given to kids ??

Alcohol is fun Alcohol is sexy Alcohol is cool Alcohol makes you

more attractive Alcohol helps you

escape Etc etc etc

Drink Driving

Legal blood alcohol limits for drivers? Zero applies to: ALL learner drivers. ALL P platers 0.02 applies to: Drivers of vehicles of "gross

vehicle mass" Drivers of vehicles carrying

dangerous goods/public vehicles such as taxi or bus drivers.

A BAC of 0.02 can be reached after the consumption of only one standard drink

0.05 applies to: ALL other licences not subject

to a 0.02 or zero limit.

How does alcohol effect driving?

How does alcohol effect driving?

Depresses inhibitions (Increase risk-taking behavior)

Slower reactions Impaired judgment of speed and distance Impaired vision Impaired hearing Impaired reasoning

Good Advice About Drinking ??

Don’t be afraid to drink something non alcoholic Drink slowly Drink low alcoholic beverages Long periods between drinks Don’t top up drinks Use a glass/can of known size Count the number of drinks consumed Set a limit before drinking and stick to it Set a drinking rate Consume food (preferably non-salty) Designated driver Budget for a taxi home

What are the consequences?

Fine, disqualification, imprisonment (see table)

Injury to self/others Death to self/others Loss of job/income Medical costs Mental problems

Why do people drink and drive?

Why do people drink and drive?

Alcohol-induced risk-taking behaviour Peer influence/pressure Expense of taxis Unaware of how to assess B.A.C. Drinking on an empty stomach No designated driver organised Got away with it before

Alcohol and violence

Alcohol and violence

Alcohol is a factor in homicides, domestic violence and arrests

Alcohol is a major contributing cause of violence in Australia

Alcohol is a major contributing cause of death and hospitalisation for young Australians

Most common causes of alcohol - attributed death for young people are road injury, suicide and violence

Male alcohol – attributed death rates are about 4 times greater than females death rates

What are the effects of alcohol related violence?

•Males make up 74% of alcohol-caused hospitalisations for injuries due to assault

•32% of young people aged between 15 -24 yrs are admitted to hospital for treatment from assault