Alcohol

Did you know that…one standard alcoholic drink takes at least one hour to leave your body. In New Zealand all alcoholic drinks must be labelled with the standard drinks they contain. The more you drink, the longer it takes to be sober and safe.
When you drink, alcohol goes into your stomach where it mixes with any food and some alcohol goes into your bloodstream. The mix then moves to your small intestine.

Most of the alcohol heads to the brain from here, affecting your co-ordination, confidence and judgement. Food slows down this process, which is why eating before you drink is a great idea. The blood then moves to your liver which works hard to get rid of the alcohol, breaking it down so it can leave the body in urine. It’s also a diuretic, making you thirsty and dehydrated.

First you can get flushed, energetic and talkative. Next you could get more confident, emotional and un-coordinated. This can lead to risk taking, memory loss and aggression. Then your body tries to rid itself of the alcohol through vomiting. Finally you can experience blackouts, wet yourself, and your vital organs start to shut down.

Drinking a lot can cause hangovers, emotional stress, make it harder to study, play sports, enjoy life and lead to physical and mental damage. Also, drinking while pregnant can cause big problems for baby.

So, remember to:

• Eat before you drink
• Count the standard drinks
• Always look out for your mates.