A standard drink contains 13.6 grams of pure alcohol. Things to remember when thinking about a standard drink:
1) Beer=wine=liquor. All will get you drunk at the same rate if you have the same number of standard size drinks of each.
2) Check the size of your glass. Many drinks in restaurants and bars come in glasses that hold 2 (or more) standard drinks.
3) Check the percentage of alcohol in the drink you are consuming. Some beers, coolers and wines have an increased percentage of alcohol and therefore can count for more than one standard drink.
Alcohol in the body
- 95% of alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream.Once in the blood, alcohol reaches the brain within minutes, instantly affecting the central nervous system, mood, balance and other motor skills.
- It takes about one to two hours for an adult liver to break down the alcohol in one standard drink
- Full or empty stomach: Food, water, and fruit juice dilute the alcohol and help to slow its absorption into the bloodstream.
- Body weight and composition: Those who have a higher muscle mass have a higher water content to dilute the alcohol, so the effects of alcohol are less pronounced than in a person with a greater percentage of body fat.
- Sex: Women absorb about a third more alcohol into their blood stream than men as they have less of the metabolizing enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase. As well, they have less blood by volume, so the same amount of alcohol in a smaller amount of blood equals a higher BAC.
Alcohol use affects the following brain functions that affect learning:
- Memory foundation
- Abstract thinking
- Problem solving
- Attention and concentration
- Perceptions of emotion
Four levels of cues that indicate when a person is or is becoming intoxicated:
- Loss of inhibitions
- Poor judgment
- Slowed reactions
- Poor coordination
Other signs or indications of intoxication:
- Physical: Slurred speech, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting
- Mental: Poor judgment, impairment of memory and comprehension
- Emotional: Increased emotions, irrational, or unstable
- Behavioral: Participation in dangerous activities, inappropriate language
Signs that indicate fatal alcohol intoxication (poisoning):
- Unconscious; the person cannot be woken
- Cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin
- Breathing really slow and/or irregularly
- Vomiting while passed out and not waking up after vomiting
- Seizures
What you should do if you suspect alcohol poisoning:
- Try to wake up the person
- Put the person in the recovery position, on their side. This is also known as the BACCHUS Maneuvre
- Do not leave them
- Immediately call for emergency medical help (it’s better to be safe than sorry)
Myths
Eating will sober someone up.
Not True. Food will only slow down the absorption of alcohol, but it will not help someone to sober up. Since the liver can only process about one to two standard drinks of alcohol per hour, time is the only thing that works.
Getting really drunk is no big deal.
Not true. Drinking too much, too fast can put someone at risk for possible injury and alcohol poisoning
Tips on How to Drink Responsibly
Punitive laws surrounding drinking and driving:
The most severe penalties are aimed at drinking and driving. If you are convicted of impaired driving, you end up with a criminal record.
First conviction: Immediate License Suspension for 90 days- one year.
Second conviction: License suspension for three years
Third conviction: License suspension for life which may be reduced to 10 years
Fourth conviction: License suspension for life with no possibility of ever having an Ontario driver’s license again.
A few tips on how to party smart and have responsible drinking behaviour:
- Wait one hour between alcoholic drinks
- Have non-alcoholic beverages and food
- Have one person in your group who does not drink
- Stay together in a group – arrive and leave together
- Set a limit for the # of drinks and stick to it
- Avoid drinking games.
- Avoid drinking energy drinks and alcohol
- Always watch the bartender make your mixed drink
- Have a plan for the night BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Energy Drinks and Alcohol
- combining alcohol with caffeine drinks (energy drinks) is becoming popular
- however mixing energy drinks and alcohol can be dangerous as people may underestimate how drunk they are
Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDG):
The LRDGs were developed for healthy adults to help them to weigh the risks associated with drinking.
The Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines are for people of legal drinking age. The legal drinking age in Ontario is 19 years.
0 Zero drinks = lowest risk of an alcohol-related problem
2 No more than 2 standard drinks on any one day
9 Women: up to 9 standard drinks a week
14 Men: up to 14 standard drinks a week
