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Alcohol Definitions Binge Drinking – The consumption of 5 drinks for a man and 4 drinks for a woman in a two-hour period. ( One drink – One 12 oz. beer equals One 5 oz. glass of wine equals One 1.5 oz. shot of hard liquor. DUI/DWI – Driving Under the Influence/Driving While Intoxicated BAL – (Blood Alcohol Level) The BAL measures how much alcohol is in a persons’ blood. Sometimes people drink faster than their body can get rid of the alcohol, and the alcohol builds up in their blood. The exact level of this build up is known as blood alcohol concentration or BAL. Alcohol Poisoning – Alcohol poisoning happens when someone has too much alcohol in his or her bloodstream. Critical signs of alcohol poisoning are mental confusion, stupor, coma, or if a person cannot be roused, vomiting, seizures, slowed breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute), irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths), hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin, and paleness.
Why is the legal drinking age 21? Like it or not, it is clear that more young people were killed on the highways back when the legal drinking age used to be 18. In 1982 when several states had the minimum drinking age as 18 years, 55% of all fatal crashes involving youth drivers involved alcohol. Since then, the alcohol- related traffic fatalities have been cut in half. Research estimates that from 1975 to 2002, more than 21,000 lives have been saved. It is hard to argue with that!
Also, a young person's brain does not finish developing until around 20 years of age. Young brains are more vulnerable to the effect of alcohol and those who drink are impairing their brain functions.
So, why 21? Because it is against the law to drink if you are under 21 and those laws were designed to save your brain and your life!
Intoxicating Information
Mixing different kinds of alcohol will make you more drunk. False – Alcohol is what makes people drunk. It has nothing to do with the type of alcohol you drink. Alcohol is alcohol. A cold shower, cup of coffee, devouring a burger or a nap will help sober you up. False – The liver can break down alcohol at a rate of about 1 drink per hour. Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, nothing can speed the rate of your metabolism. Not food, not water, not caffeine. You may be full but you won’t be any less drunk. Alcohol, food, and non-alcoholic beverages are all digested the same way. False – Alcohol is not digested like other foods and beverages. It goes directly to your bloodstream through the tissue that lines your stomach and small intestines. Alcohol doesn’t effect your body’s organs unless you get really drunk. False – When your stomach is empty, alcohol is absorbed directly into your bloodstream within 5 minutes. As soon as alcohol is in your bloodstream it will be carried to all your body’s organs, including your brain, within 90 seconds. You can suffer alcohol withdrawal symptoms after your first time drinking. True – The common hangover. Symptoms include nausea, headache, dehydration and the shakes. As long as you’ve gotten a few hours of sleep, you’ll be fine to drive in the morning after you’ve been drinking. False – Your motor coordination can be affected for up to 10 hours after your last drink. Passing out can be life threatening. True – If you drink so much that you pass out, then the alcohol is causing your brain to begin shutting down, causing unconsciousness. The amount of alcohol it takes for you to pass out is dangerously close to the amount of alcohol it takes to kill you. Even though alcohol is a drug, you cannot overdose on it. False - If your BAL gets too high it can cause your heartbeat and breathing to stop which means you can die from drinking too much. Your family history can influence your drinking habits True – Children of alcoholics are 3-4 times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. In the United States, drugs are a bigger problem than alcohol False – Every year, in the United States, alcohol kills more teenagers than all other illegal drugs combined.
FYI Alcohol and your health The earlier you start drinking alcohol, the more damage you do to your body. Alcohol effects all your major organs. It impairs brain functioning (kills brain cells), can lead to liver conditions such as cirrhosis (can be fatal), and is also an indicator for later alcohol abuse and dependency. The truth about alcohol and being a teenage female: On popularity: Alcohol gives you bad breath, makes your face puffy, your stomach bloated and gives you zits. Think about it, is that going to get you a date?
On boys: Alcohol robs you of your ability to react and think clearly; making it easier for someone to force you to do things you do not want to do. As a result you are putting yourself at risk for rape, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Fab Friends If your friends pressure you to drink, are they real friends? Real friends don’t pressure you to do anything you don’t want to do!
The truth about alcohol and being a teenage male: On popularity: You are looking good now but drinking alcohol can do some major damage to your body. Bad breath, zits…ever heard of a beer belly? Not attractive!
On girls: Alcohol is not liquid courage. You will end up making a fool of yourself and/or doing something you will regret. Your eyesight is not the only thing that will be blurry, so will your judgment. Drinking does not turn you into a stud!
On hanging out with the guys: You want to chill with your friends? Chances are alcohol will be available at some point. It is easier to take a beer than a stand. If they are your real friends they will be cool with your choice.
Why is the legal drinking age 21? Early alcohol and other drug use can seriously effect the brain function and development of your growing teen. The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable in these years of transformation and continuous development. Specifically, your teen is beginning to develop the areas responsible for critical learning, decision-making and judgment. Recent research on the brain suggests that the brain is not fully developed until after the age of 18 and sometimes not until 25. As previously mentioned, the introduction of alcohol and other drugs into the body can effect the brain's ability to fully. Studies show that the earlier a person starts using an addictive substance (alcohol, tobacco, or drugs), the more likely he or she is to develop an addiction. According to the National Institute of Health, 40% of youth who start drinking before the age of 15 will meet the criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their lives.
How do I talk to my child about alcohol?
It is so important for you to have an open dialog with your children at any age. When the time comes to discuss alcohol try thinking about the three following areas:
Misperceptions: Your youth may be receiving some mixed messages about alcohol. Make sure your child knows the facts about alcohol and not just what they think their peers are doing. (Begin with “Intoxicating Information” in either the High School or College section of our web page)
Do not discuss your past: You may be tempted to discuss your own alcohol and drug use during college or high school. It is not advisable. You do not want to give mixed messages about drinking and drug use by telling stories from your past. Make the focus your teen.
A continuous dialog: This is not a conversation that can only happen once. Alcohol will continuously be made available and advertised to your children, which means you have to make yourself continuously available to them, too.
FYI High School-age Parents “79% of parents think it’s ok for kids to drink as long as they’re supervised.” - Risk Factors That Support Alcohol Use Focus Group Spring 2005
Party Hosting — You may think you're protecting your child by allowing drinking at home or having a party where alcohol is being served, but you are not. You are condoning illegal behavior and sending a mixed message to your child.
It isn’t just about your child being responsible with alcohol or being supervised while drinking. It is about their bodies and their brains. (See “Why is the legal drinking age 21?”)
Alcohol Definitions Binge Drinking - The consumption of 5 drinks for a man and 4 drinks for a woman in a two-hour period. ( One drink - ONE 12 oz. beer equals ONE 5 oz. glass of wine equals ONE 1.5 oz. shot of hard liquor. DUI/DWI - Driving Under the Influence/Driving While Intoxicated BAL – (Blood Alcohol Level) The BAL measures how much alcohol is in a persons’ blood. Sometimes people drink faster than their body can get rid of the alcohol, and the alcohol builds up in their blood. The exact level of this build up is known as blood alcohol concentration or BAL. Alcohol Poisoning – Alcohol poisoning happens when someone has too much alcohol in his or her bloodstream. Critical signs of alcohol poisoning are mental confusion, stupor, coma, or if a person cannot be roused, vomiting, seizures, slowed breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute), irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths), hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin, and paleness.
Intoxicating Information Mixing different kinds of alcohol will make you more drunk. False – A drink is a drink! One shot of liquor is the same as one 8oz. glass of beer or one 5oz. glass of wine. A cold shower, cup of coffee, devouring a burger or a nap will help sober you up. False – The liver can break down alcohol at a rate of about 1 drink per hour. Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, nothing can speed the rate of your metabolism. Not food, not water, not caffeine. You may be full but you won’t be any less drunk. The worst thing that can happen is a raging hangover. False – Alcohol is not digested like other foods and beverages. It goes directly to your bloodstream through the tissue that lines your stomach and small intestines. Alcohol doesn’t effect your body’s organs unless you get really drunk. False – When your stomach is empty, alcohol is absorbed directly into your bloodstream within 5 minutes. As soon as alcohol is in your bloodstream it will be carried to all your body’s organs, including your brain, within 90 seconds. You can suffer alcohol withdrawal symptoms after your first time drinking. True – The common hangover. Symptoms include nausea, headache, dehydration and the shakes. As long as you’ve gotten a few hours of sleep, you’ll be fine to drive in the morning after you’ve been drinking. False – You motor coordination can be effected for up to 10 hours after your last drink. Getting drunk will help you perform better sexually. False – While alcohol may loosen you up, heavy alcohol consumption can cause impotence in men and decreased vaginal or clitoral sensations in women. Passing out can be life threatening. True – If you drink so much that you pass out, then the alcohol is causing your brain to begin shutting down, causing unconsciousness. The amount of alcohol it takes for you to pass out is dangerously close to the amount of alcohol it takes to kill you. Even though alcohol is a drug, you cannot overdose on it. False - If your BAC gets too high it can cause your heartbeat and breathing to stop which means you can die from drinking too much. Your family history can influence your drinking habits True – Children of alcoholics are 3-4 times more likely to become alcoholics themselves. In the United States, drugs are a bigger problem than alcohol False – Every year, in the United States, alcohol kills more teenagers than all other illegal drugs combined.
FYI Alcohol and your body This year, approximately 150,000 students will develop alcohol related health problems. Approximately 1,400 college students between 18 and 24 years old die each year from alcohol related unintentional injuries.
Nearly 300,000 of today’s college students will eventually die from alcohol related health issues such as cirrhosis or the liver, various cancers and heart disease.
Alcohol and sex Last year approximately 400,000 students had unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol. A quarter of those students were too drunk to remember if they had consented.
1 out of 5 students will abandon safe sex practices entirely while intoxicated.
Approximately 60% of college women infected with a sexually transmitted disease were intoxicated when they had sex with the infected partner.
More than 70,000 students were the victims of alcohol related sexual assault.
90% of all campus rapes occur when alcohol is involved by either the victim or the assailant.
Alcohol and your education The average student spends about $900 on alcohol each year and about $450 on textbooks.
Nearly 1/3 of college students admit to having missed at least one class because of their alcohol or drug use.
Approximately 1/4 of students reported failing a test or project because of the after affects of drinking or doing drugs.
One night of heavy drinking can impair your ability to think abstractly for up to 30 days. Limiting your ability to relate textbook reading to what your professor says. 159,000 of today’s first year college students will drop out of school for alcohol or other drug related reasons.
College-age Parents Alcohol and your child’s body This year, approximately 150,000 students will develop alcohol related health problems.
Approximately 1,400 college students between 18 and 24 years old die each year from alcohol related unintentional injuries.
Nearly 300,000 of today’s college students will eventually die from alcohol related health issues such as cirrhosis or the liver, various cancers and heart disease.
Alcohol and sex Last year approximately 400,000 students had unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol. A quarter of those students were too drunk to remember if they had consented.
1 out of 5 students will abandon safe sex practices entirely while intoxicated.
Approximately 60% of college women infected with a sexually transmitted disease were intoxicated when they had sex with the infected partner.
More than 70,000 students were the victims of alcohol related sexual assault.
90% of all campus rapes occur when alcohol is involved by either the victim or the assailant.
Alcohol and your child’s education The average student spends about $900 on alcohol each year and about $450 on textbooks.
Nearly 1/3 of college students admit to having missed at least one class because of their alcohol or drug use.
Approximately 1/4 of students reported failing a test or project because of the after affects of drinking or doing drugs.
One night of heavy drinking can impair your ability to think abstractly for up to 30 days. Limiting your ability to relate textbook reading to what your professor says.
159,000 of today’s first year college students will drop out of school for alcohol or other drug related reasons. |
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