Some information about alcohol so that you are aware of the
risks involved.
Alcohol first acts as a stimulant, and then it
makes people feel relaxed and a bit sleepy. High doses of
alcohol seriously affect judgment and coordination. Drinkers may
have slurred speech, confusion, depression, short-term memory loss,
and slow reaction times. Large volumes of alcohol drunk in a
short period of time may cause alcohol poisoning.
You will often hear about the recommended
daily intake of units of alcohol. However, it is not as
simple as it seems. Look at this handy on-line calculator to
find out how much alcohol you are consuming from Drinkaware.
Also remember these guidelines are for adults over the age of
18. For children and young people the effects of alcohol are
much more pronounced.
The government Chief Medical
Officer recommends that:-
- Children should not drink before
they’re 15, if at all.
- 5-17-years-olds should only drink when they’re supervised by a
parent or other adult.
- If 15-17-year-olds drink, they should do so infrequently and on
no more than one day a week.
- Parents and young people should be aware that drinking can be
dangerous to health.
- Not drinking is the healthiest option for young people.
- The importance of parents’ influence on their children’s
drinking should be made clear. Parents and carers need advice on
how to respond to alcohol use and misuse by children.
- Support services must be available for young people who have
alcohol-related problems.
childline.org
has more information on alcohol abuse
Drinksense
Based in Peterborough and has lots of useful information for
young people www.drinksense.org
A booklet has been witten to help children and adults talk about
a parent's drinking by the Children's Society and the Children's
Commissioner. The booklet is called
You are not on your own