FACTS
- What are the recommended daily limits for alcohol consumption for children and young people?
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No recommendations exist for children and young people as our bodies are still growing and the recommended daily limits for alcohol consumption are based on adult drinking, Alcohol can also be particularly damaging to teenage brains which are still developing. Alcohol can have a big impact on our health the younger you are when you start to drink, the greater the risk of alcohol-related problems later in life.
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- How long does it take for the liver to process one unit of alcohol?
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On average it takes about one hour for your body to process one unit of alcohol. This varies depending on your body size, whether you are a boy or girl and the amount of food in your digestive system. If your liver isn't functioning normally, the process takes longer Younger people tend to be smaller, weigh less, and are less experienced in dealing with the effects of alcohol. It will therefore have a greater effect on them and do more damage than it would to an older person.
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- What is the definition of binge drinking?
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One example is drinking 10 or more units (approx 5 pints )for a man or seven units (approx 2 small glasses of wine & a couple of vodka shots) for a woman at one time is the answer but remember how much young people sometimes drink at one time! Health experts have determined that drinking above these levels can be harmful to your health and if you think about it… many of us actually binge drink regularly at weekends without realising!
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- What is the best way to avoid hangover?
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The best way to avoid hangovers is not to drink, but if you are going to drink, then have a glass of water for each alcoholic drink you consume. A hangover is one effect of drinking too much alcohol that may be familiar to young people symptoms include a thumping headache, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting. But do you know why you end up feeling like this? When the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces a chemical called acetaldehyde. This chemical is toxic to the body and can result in these symptoms.
If you drink too much alcohol over a period of time, a few bad hangovers will be the least of your problems. You also run the risk of health problems such as raised blood pressure, weight gain, drunken accidents and problems with your liver, stomach, kidneys and heart.
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- What can stop the effects of alcohol on the body?
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Time. Once alcohol has entered the body it is very quickly absorbed into the blood stream only time can change the effects of alcohol providing you have stopped drinking. Vomiting, drinking black coffee, walking, fresh air or having a cold shower do not sober you up.
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- How many young people under 15 a year are taken to Accident and Emergency in the UK for alcohol related issues?
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A recent report shows that alcohol intoxication is particularly heavy among teenagers and young adults. Around one thousand young people under the age of 15 need emergency treatment for alcohol poisoning each year. Drinking can lead to severe intoxication, which is more dangerous for children and adolescents than for adults, as they experience coma at lower blood alcohol levels and can develop hypoglycaemia (low levels of blood sugar), hypothermia and breathing difficulties.
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- There are approximately 1200kcal in a 12" Pizza, how many alco pops would you have to drink to get the same number of calories?
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The answer is 6. Each gram of alcohol contains seven calories. Weight for weight, the alcohol in a drink contains almost as many calories as fat. The average bottle of wine contains 600 calories while four pints of average strength lager contains 640. If you're watching your waistline, cutting down on alcohol will help to reduce calorie intake. Alcohol can also weaken your willpower, tempting you to eat more than you planned. Alcohol is often referred to as a source of 'empty calories', meaning it has no nutritional value and there is nothing contained in alcohol that is good for us other than providing energy. The energy provided by an alcoholic drink depends on the percentage of alcohol it contains.
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- Alcohol misuse can cause cirrhosis of one of the main organs of the body, which organ?
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If alcohol is consumed in high quantities over a long period of time, this can cause cirrhosis of the liver, which in severe cases can lead to liver failure and death. Drinking too much alcohol initially causes fat deposits to develop in the liver. With continued excessive drinking the liver may become inflamed resulting in alcoholic hepatitis which can result in liver failure and death. Excessive alcohol can permanently scar and damage the liver resulting in liver cirrhosis and an increased risk of liver cancer.
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- Alcohol is removed from the blood stream by?
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Alcohol is distributed via the bloodstream throughout the body, reaching your heart, brain, muscles and other tissues. This happens very quickly - within a few minutes. Your body can't store alcohol, so it has to get rid of it - mostly via your liver. First, the liver changes alcohol into acetaldehyde - a highly toxic substance. This turns into acetate, a harmless substance, which is passed out in the urine. Some alcohol is also excreted through the breath and sweat. Until all the alcohol consumed has been processed, it is distributed throughout the body, affecting the brain and other tissues. Your body breaks down alcohol at a rate of about one unit per hour - and no, there's no way you can speed this up!
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- Can drinking alcohol cause death?
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Yes. Drinking alcohol can cause death in a number of ways. Alcohol is a depressant drug, which means it slows down the functioning of the brain. If enough alcohol is consumed the vital centres of the brain can be slowed down to a point where breathing stops and death can occur. If large amounts of alcohol have been consumed then the body may try to eliminate some of the alcohol by making the body throw up. If the person is not alert or is unconscious it is possible to choke on the vomit. Both of these effects can occur the first time someone drinks.
People who drink heavily over a long period can have a number of problems with their health. Liver disease is one of these health risks, which can also result in death. Alcohol can also contribute to death in more indirect ways such as accidents, for example road traffic accidents, fires and falls.
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