Effects

Tolerance and dependence

Withdrawal

Reducing the risk

Alcohol and pregnancy

Alcohol and driving

Alcohol and other drugs

Further Information

 Alcohol

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, although in smaller amounts it may appear to have a mild stimulant effect. The main psychoactive ingredient in alcoholic beverages is ethyl alcohol, produced through the fermentation of sugar by yeast. Alcoholic drinks vary in strength, e.g. beer and alcoholic sodas (1-9% alcohol), wines (10-15%) and spirits (35-55%).

Alcohol is a legal drug sanctioned by cultural and social norms in Australia. About half of the population drink alcohol at levels that put them at higher risk of alcohol-related harm in the short-term and about a quarter at levels that put them at higher risk of alcohol-related in the long-term. Alcohol contributes to gross national product yet the annual cost to the Australian community of alcohol-related social problems is estimated to be $7.6 billion. There is evidence that at low levels (less than 1 standard drink per day for women and 1-2 standard drinks for men) alcohol may prevent heart disease from middle age onwards, however the same can be achieved through a healthy lifestyle - attention to diet, exercise etc.

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Standard drinks

A standard drink contains about 10 grams of pure alcohol. Hotels and restaurants usually serve alcohol in standard drink size glasses. Wine, however, is normally sold in 140 mL or 200 mL glasses. One 200 mL glass of wine contains approximately two standard drinks. Glasses used at home are unlikely to be standard drink size. The labels on alcoholic drink bottles and cans show the number of standard drinks they contain.

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 Effects

The effects of alcohol vary depending on a number of factors including:

• type and quantity of alcohol consumed
• age, weight and gender
• body chemistry
• food in the stomach
• drinking experience
• situation in which drinking occurs

 

Short-term effects

Although it varies between individuals, there is a relationship between the concentration of alcohol in the blood (Blood Alcohol Concentration - BAC) and its effects. Mild euphoria and stimulation of behaviour occur initially with minor effects on performance which become more pronounced as the concentration of alcohol rises. Unfortunately, people often believe they are performing better rather than much worse.

In a person of average build, one standard drink will raise the BAC by approximately 0.01-0.03% in an hour, and as a rough guide it will be broken down at a similar rate, i.e. one standard drink per hour.

 

Effects on Behaviour

Stages	BAC	Likely Effects
Feeling of well-being	Up to .05 g%	Talkative Relaxed More confident
At-risk	.05-.08 g%	Talkative Acts and feels self-confident Judgment and movement impaired Inhibitions reduced
Risky state	.08-.15 g%	Speech slurred Balance and coordination impaired Reflexes slowed Visual attention impaired Unstable emotions Nausea, vomiting
High-risk state	.15-.30 g%	Unable to walk without help Apathetic, sleepy Laboured breathing Unable to remember events Loss of bladder control Possible loss of consciousness
Death	Over .30 g%	Coma Death

Intoxication risks

Intoxication is the most common cause of alcohol-related problems, leading to injuries and premature deaths. As a result, intoxication accounts for two-thirds of the years of life lost from drinking. Alcohol is responsible for:

• 30% of road accidents
• 44% of fire injuries
• 34% of falls and drownings
• 16% of child abuse cases
• 12% of suicides
• 10% of industrial accidents

As well as deaths, short-term effects of alcohol result in illness and loss of work productivity (e.g. hangovers, drink driving offences). In addition, alcohol contributes to criminal behaviour - in Australia over 70% of prisoners convicted of violent assaults have drunk alcohol before committing the offence and more than 40% of domestic violence incidents involve alcohol.

 

Long-term effects

Each year approximately 3000 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and around 65 000 people are hospitalised. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption is associated with:

• heart damage
• high blood pressure and stroke
• liver damage
• cancers of the digestive system
• other digestive system disorders (e.g. stomach ulcers)
• sexual impotence and reduced fertility
• increasing risk of breast cancer
• sleeping difficulties
• brain damage with mood and personality changes
• concentration and memory problems

In addition to health problems, alcohol also impacts on relationships, finances, work, and may result in legal problems.

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 Tolerance and Dependence

A regular drinker may develop tolerance and dependence. Tolerance means that they feel less effect than they used to with the same amount of alcohol. Dependence means that the alcohol becomes central in their life - a lot of time is spent thinking about alcohol, obtaining it, consuming it and recovering from it. The person will find it difficult to stop drinking or to control the amount consumed.

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 Withdrawal

Someone who is physically dependent on alcohol will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking or substantially reduce their intake. Symptoms usually commence 6-24 hours after the last drink, last for about 5 days and include:

• tremor
• nausea
• anxiety
• depression
• sweating
• headache
• difficulty sleeping (may last several weeks)

Alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous; people drinking more than 8 standard drinks a day are advised to discuss a decision to stop drinking with a doctor as medical treatment may be required to prevent complications.

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 Reducing the Risk

A moderate amount of alcohol does not harm most people. However, excessive drinking above recommended levels, on a regular basis, can cause health problems.

The following National Health and Medical Research Council's Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol were released on 6 March 2009.

 

Guidelines for low-risk drinking

 

GUIDELINE 1:

Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime

The lifetime risk of harm from drinking alcohol increases with the amount consumed.

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.

 

GUIDELINE 2: 

Reducing the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking

On a single occasion of drinking, the risk of alcohol-related injury increases with the amount consumed.

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol related injury arising from that occasion.

 

GUIDELINE 3:

Children and young people under 18 years of age

For children and young people under 18 years of age, no drinking alcohol is the safest option.

3A Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.

3B For young people aged 15-17 years the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.

 

GUIDELINE 4:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing fetus or breastfeeding baby.

4A For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.

4B For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.

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 Alcohol and Pregnancy

 

The following guideline on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding by the National Health and Medical Research Council's Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol was released on 6 March 2009.

GUIDELINE 4:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing fetus or breastfeeding baby.

4A For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.

4B For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.

More information on Alcohol and Pregnancy

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 Alcohol and Driving

To avoid the risk of harm to the drinker and others, alcohol should be avoided before and during driving (or other activities involving risk or requiring a degree of skill). Although state laws permit experienced drivers a BAC of up to 0.05%, there is evidence of effects on performance at lower levels. At a BAC of 0.05%, the risk of a crash is 5 times greater than with a BAC of 0%.

More information on Alcohol and Driving

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 Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol can be dangerous when other drugs and medications (including over-the-counter preparations) are taken. Alcohol magnifies the effects of sleeping pills (e.g. Serepax, Valium, Mogadon), cannabis, strong painkillers, some antipsychotics and antidepressants. Effects can be unpredictable when combined with stimulants such as caffeine, cold remedies, appetite suppressants and amphetamines. Oral contraceptive pills or oestrogen replacement therapy can also influence the effects of alcohol.

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 Further Information

Alcohol & Drug Information Service

(24-hour information and counselling)

Tel: 1300 13 1340

(South Australian callers - local call fee)

The goal of the South Australian Drug Strategy is to improve the health and well-being of all South Australians by preventing the use of illicit drugs and the misuse of licit drugs.

The information in this publication is a guide only. Readers are encouraged to seek appropriate professional advice before relying upon any of the material contained in it. While care has been taken to ensure the material contained in this publication is up-to-date at the time of printing, the Southern Adelaide Health Service Incorporated accepts no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the material in the publication and expressly disclaims all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information contained within it.