Effects

Tolerance and dependence

Withdrawal

Reducing the risk

Alcohol and pregnancy

Alcohol and young people less than 18 years

Alcohol and driving

Alcohol and other drugs

Further Information

 Alcohol

Alcohol is part of the Australian culture and way of life. Australians drink alcohol to relax, socialise, celebrate, and for its taste. The challenge for Australian society is to balance alcohol's place in the culture with the health risks associated with drinking too much and drinking more than is healthy over a longer period.

In 2010, 81% of the South Australian population over the age of 14 years reported that they had consumed at least one standard drink in the previous 12 months. The annual cost to the Australian community of alcohol-related social problems is estimated to be $15.3 billion.

 

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

Everybody responds differently to drinking alcohol so it is not possible to say what effects havng a certain number of drinks has on a person. Instead blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can be used as a guide to what affects alcohol may have on behaviour.

 

Short-term effects

Alcohol starts to affect the brain within five minutes of being consumed. The BAC peaks about 30-45 minutes after one standard drink is consumed. Rapid consumption of multiple drinks results in higher BAC because the average body can only break down one standard drink per hour.

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
• mental health status
• other health conditions made worse by alcohol.

 

 

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 (eg hangovers, drink driving offences). In addition, alcohol contributes to criminal behaviour - in 2010 it was reported that more than 70,000 Australians were victims of alcohol-related assault, among which 24,000 were victims of alcohol-related domestic violence.

 

Long-term effects

Each year approximately 3000 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and around 100,000 people are hospitalised. Long-term excessive alcohol consumption is associated with:

• heart damage
• high blood pressure and stroke
• liver disease
• cancers of the digestive system
• other digestive system disorders (eg 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
• nutrition-related conditions
• risks to unborn babies.

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 and they continue to drink despite being aware of the harms caused through that consumption. 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 five days and include:

• tremor
• nausea/vomiting
• anxiety/agitation
• depression
• sweating
• headache
• difficulty sleeping (may last several weeks).

Alcohol withdrawal can be very dangerous. People drinking more than eight 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 consumed occasionally does not harm most people. However, excessive drinking above recommended levels, on a regular basis, can cause health problems.

 

Drinking guidelines

National guidelines for alcohol consumption have been developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council to help reduce the risk of harm from alcohol consumption. The guidelines can help in making informed choices and help keep the risk of alcohol-related accidents, injuries, diseases and death, low - both in the short and long term.

The guidelines recommend that healthy men and women should drink:

• no more than two standard drinks on any day in order to reduce the risk of harm from alcohol-related diseases or injury in the long term
• no more than four standard drinks on any one occasion in order to reduce the risk of alcohol-related injury in the short term.

 

These drinks should be spread over several hours. Everyone should try to have at least one or two alcohol free days a week.

 

Tips to reduce the risk to your health when drinking

• eat before you drink
• space your drinks with water and other non-alcohol drinks
• organise safe transport (eg utilise the bus service)
• say no when you know you've had enough
• don't leave your drink unattended
• don't mix alcohol with other drugs
• don't drink at all before undertaking any risky activities (eg swimming, driving or boating)
• support your friend's decision if they choose not to drink.

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 Alcohol and Pregnancy

Evidence shows that maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing fetus or breastfeeding baby. It is recommended that women who are pregnant, planning to be pregnant or are breastfeeding should not consume alcohol at all.

National guidelines for alcohol consumption have been developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The guidelines on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding recommend the following.  

 

GUIDELINE 4:  Pregnancy and breastfeeding

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

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

More information on Alcohol and Pregnancy

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 Alcohol and young people less than 18 years

There are many good reasons for people aged less than 18 years not to drink alcohol. Early drinking is related to increased alcohol consumption in adolescence and young adulthood. These drinking patterns are also related to the possibility of damage to the developing brain and development of alcohol-related harms in adulthood.

• Children less than 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking.
• Not drinking in this age group - less than 15 years - is especially important.
• For young people aged 15 to 17 years, the safest option is to delay drinking for as long as possible.

 

 

 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 (eg 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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Did you know?

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

 

 

 Further Information

Alcohol and Drug Information Service

(24-hour information and counselling)

Tel: 1300 13 1340

(South Australian callers - local call fee)