Alcohol is a depressant drug consisting mainly of water and ethanol, produced by the fermentation of fruits, vegetables or grain.

Alcohol use among young adults has fallen over the last twenty years in England. The reasons include changing social, cultural and religious attitudes towards alcohol and socialising.

What are the effects of alcohol?

A small amount of alcohol can produce feelings of relaxation and confidence.

Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and starts to have an effect within 5 - 10 minutes.

The effect alcohol has depends on the amount and strength of the drink, how quick quickly it is drunk, whether there is food in the stomach and the mood of the drinker. The effects last several hours depending how much is consumed.

What are units?

The amount of alcohol in a drink is measured in units. Different drinks have different number of units. The number of units in a bottle or a can of alcohol is printed on the label or packaging.

Units are a simple way of explaining the quantity of alcohol in a drink. The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink as well as its alcohol strength. For example, some cans of superstrength lager contain 4 units of alcohol, whereas the same amount of standard lager contains 2 units of alcohol.

What are the problems with alcohol

Alcohol affects different people in different ways. How much you drink; when and where you drink, who you are with, and how you feel at the time will all play a part in how alcohol affects you.

Drinking too much can lead to a loss of control, dizziness, vomiting and even loss of consciousness. One of the other big problems with alcohol is that it can make you do things that you wouldn’t normally do.

Young people who drink frequently or drink heavily are more likely to be involved in fights and get hurt, commit violent offences and get into trouble with the police.

Too much alcohol on a single occasion can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can result in the person going into a coma or even death.

Young people who drink frequently or drink heavily are more likely to be involved in fights and get hurt, commit violent offences and get into trouble with the police.

Heavy drinking in young people can affect how the brain functions, self-confidence and how you make decisions.

Reducing risks

Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Doing so can make you feel drunk and sick.

Make sure you know what you are drinking and how strong it is. Knowing your units will help you stay in control of your drinking keep health risks from alcohol to a low level.

Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis and spread their drinking over 3 or more days during the week. If you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week.

14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

Drink lower strength drinks. Avoid high strength ciders and lagers and especially spirits such as vodka. It is very easy to drink more than you had planned to do.

Drink slowly - do not gulp of alcohol. Have a soft drink or water between alcoholic drinks.

Make sure you have a plan for getting home safely. Stay with friends and have taxi Apps on your phone.

Coffee, cold showers, being sick or exercise will not sober you up. These things don’t work and could be dangerous. The only thing that will sober you up is time.

Alcohol and the law

Across the UK, it can be an offence to be drunk in a public place – for example if you’re causing a disturbance, or unable to look after yourself. Police have powers to issue fines or make an arrest depending on the severity of the offence.

You can be stopped, fined or arrested by police if you’re under 18 and drinking alcohol in public.

For more detailed information about the law, visit the Release website.