Alcohol

What is Alcohol?

Alcohol is a liquid depressant that is consumed in the form of beer, wine, liquor, or alcopops. Alcohol is a mood altering drug that is legal for adults, ages 21 and over, to purchase and consume. Alcohol can make people seem really happy. However, the more one drinks, the more their brain and body slow down, making it more difficult for one to remain in control of their actions. Essentially, alcohol is a drug that has potentially to do serious damage to you and those around you.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Body?

Alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects. Here are some of them:

Immediate

  • Slower reactions

  • Unexpected changes in behavior

  • Loss of balance, coordination, and judgment

  • Slurred speech, confusion

  • Increased risk taking

  • Drowsiness

  • Nausea and vomiting

  • Alcohol poisoning

Long-Term

  • Muscle disease and tremors

  • Liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver, and cancer

  • Nutritional deficiency, ulcers, and gastritis

  • Brain damage

  • Increased blood pressure

  • Irritation and inflammation of the digestive system

  • Increased risk of cancer of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, and larynx

  • Bad skin, hair, and nails

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency and can happen to anyone. See how it played a role in taking the life of a local 15-year-old girl.

 
 

Did You Know?

  • Alcohol and tobacco kill more than 50 times the number of people that are killed by all other illegal drugs combined.

  • Alcohol can affect your body's involuntary reflexes, such as breathing and the gag reflex.

  • Binge drinking is drinking a lot, in a small amount of time. On average, it is 4 drinks for a female and 5 drinks for a male within a period of 2 hours.

  • Binge drinking is a big problem for young people.

  • Too much alcohol in the bloodstream can cause a person to lose consciousness, go in a coma or die.

  • You cannot always tell how strong a drink is by its taste.

  • Even after a person's last drink, his or her alcohol level keeps rising.

  • Excessive drinking contributes to more than 3,200 deaths among people below the age of 21 in the U.S. each year.

  • In 2018, 10,511 people died from car accidents involving alcohol and 980 of those people were under the age of 21.

  • Alcohol also increases impaired judgement, you are more likely to take risk such as:

    • Having unprotected sex

    • Violence

    • Falling

    • Driving drunk

Sources:

www.responsibility.org

www.cdc.gov

Why is the Drinking Age 21?

It's no secret that the legal age for purchasing or consuming alcohol is 21 years old, but why? While the alcohol tolerance of an individual is dependent on a wide variety of factors, young people are more susceptible to alcohol addiction and the effects of alcohol since their brains are still developing. By age 21, the brain becomes more fully developed and mature, reducing the risk of addiction and permanent damage caused by alcohol consumption.

Our friends over at Wait21.org explain the science of addiction and how drinking before 21 can be especially dangerous to your health. Check them out!

 
 

Hawaii Partnership to Prevent Underage Drinking (HPPUD)

HPPUD is a partnership that the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii has whose mission is to “to prevent or delay the early onset of substance misuse, including underage drinking, through collaborative planning and community action.” Check out their great website here!

Defying Social Norms

83% of Hawaii youth ages 12-24 do not binge drink.

 
 

Infographics

Additional Information on Alcohol