Alcohol
Alcohol is a social drug that affects people in different ways. Heavy drinkers and binge drinkers risk serious alcohol-related harm. For many adults, a drink after work, or with family and friends, is just part of socialising and relaxing. For others, one drink is never enough.
|
A standard drink = 10g of alcohol. This is how much alcohol is typically found in:
|
Symptoms of problem drinking
Drinking too much in one session (binge drinking) or drinking too much over time (alcohol misuse) can both lead to long-term health problems.
People who have alcoholism or alcohol abuse often:
- continue to drink, even when health, work, or family are being harmed.
- drink alone.
- become violent when drinking.
- are not able to control drinking - being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake.
- make excuses to drink.
- need to use alcohol on most days to get through the day.
- try to hide alcohol use.