Alcohol

• Alcohol is an intoxicating substance made from fermented starches.
• Alcohol is a depressant drug.
• Depressant drugs affect your concentration and coordination, and slow your reaction time. Alcohol slows down the activity in the brain.
• Alcohol one of the most used drugs in Australia.
• Alcohol is part of most social functions and is widely accepted.

Street names

Grog, charge, drink, tinnies, liquor, booze.

Effects

The effects of alcohol vary from person to person.

Excessive alcohol consumption may result in many personal and social problems such as family problems, work problems and legal problems. For example: drinking when you're unhappy, drinking and driving may lead to loss of your licence, heavy fines and imprisonment and even death.

Other factors that alcohol is related to:

• violence and abuse
• depression
• risky behaviour.

Effects of heavy drinking and binge drinking

There is the possibility of liver and brain damage, high blood pressure, irregular pulse, enlarged heart, frequent infections, sexual impotence, damaged sperm, damage to foetus, muscle weakness/loss of tissue, skin damage, memory loss/confusion and emotional difficulties.

Tolerance and dependence

People who are heavy drinkers build up a tolerance to alcohol, so they need to drink a lot more than normal for them to feel the same effects. This can soon be a problem for them because they can then become dependent on alcohol to get them through the day or week.

People who drink a lot of alcohol may spend too much money on the drug, so there may not be enough money for food, rent, clothes and bills.

Heavy drinkers can develop physical and psychological dependence.

Alcohol with other drugs

Alcohol used with other drugs can increase the overall effects and can be potentially fatal. This includes prescribed drugs.

Alcohol and sex

People who have been drinking are also more likely to have unsafe sex that can result in pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections including HIV.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is a moderate high risk of birth defects occurring resulting from heavy drinking during pregnancy. The risks of alcohol related birth defects is higher the more alcohol is consumed. Binge drinking at anytime of pregnancy may cause fetal damage. Ask your Aboriginal health worker or doctor for more information

Reducing harm

The best way to reduce harm from alcohol is not to drink alcohol. If you choose to drink you can reduce the harm by:

• drink low alcoholic drinks
• pre mixed drinks
• eating before or while you drink
• start with soft drink
• pace yourself
• drink standard drinks.

Alcohol and the law

In Australia it's illegal to buy alcohol if you are under 18 years old, and it’s illegal to get someone else to buy alcohol for you if you are under 18 years.

Drinking and driving

In Australia the legal limit for drinking and driving is 0.05 blood alcohol content.

You might still be over the legal limit the next morning after a big night on the alcohol, so it’s important to plan ahead if you’re going to drink the night before and drive home.

• For males, you may be over the legal limit if you have two standard drinks in the first hour.
• For females, the limit is one standard drink in the first hour.

 Even though there is a legal limit, your limit may still be less, especially if you’re a lighter build.

Other associated risks

If you have hepatitis C, which causes inflammation of the liver, it is important to not drink any alcohol at all.

Where to get help

If a person is concerned about their alcohol use, they need to be encouraged to get help from their local Aboriginal Health Service, their doctor or from a drug and alcohol service. Family and friends who are concerned about someone they care about can also get information and support from these places.

• Direct Line; Phone: 1800 888 236
• Family Drug Help; Phone: 1300 660 068
• Alcoholism and Drug Treatment Centre (Moreland Hall); Phone: 9386 2876

• Youth Substance Abuse Service (YSAS); Phone: 1800 014 446; Website: www.ysas.org.au
  Drug and alcohol services for people aged between 12 and 21 who are experiencing significant problems related to their drug use
• Alcoholics Anonymous; Phone 9429 1833
  Free call service to counsellors and professional advice.

This fact sheet has been reproduced with permission from the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).

Download the Alcohol fact sheet
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