It's Alcohol Awareness Week!

For anyone that doesn't know, I've decided to take part in what I'm calling No Drink November, in support of Alcohol Awareness week. It's true, you can have fun without alcohol! This week I shall be posting my blogs and on social media, check it out!

Alcohol and Your Health

Benefits of drinking less

• Weight loss – alcohol is seriously fattening. Four pints could be the equivalent of eating a hot dog, followed by a burger, with a doughnut for dessert. Cutting back on the amount you drink could see your waistline shrink!
• Clear skin – drinking dehydrates you and deprives the skin of vital vitamins and nutrients. So swap the zit zapping cream and that extra pint for a glass of the clear stuff.
• Mental health – too much alcohol can lead to sleepless nights, stress, anxiety and memory loss – not what you want when studying for a degree!
• Less risk of developing serious illnesses – the more you drink the more likely you are to develop liver disease, some cancers, heart disease, brain damage, infertility, dementia and the list goes on. Read more on the NHS website.

Are you drinking too much?

Find out if drink is damaging your health by downloading the free Drinkaware app. 

Safety

Dangerous drinks

Every year hundreds of people have drugs or alcohol added to their drinks without them knowing. Often this is by someone they know and it is meant as a joke. Drink-spiking is illegal and seriously dangerous. As well as leaving your friends’ drinks alone, here’s how you can protect yourself and your friends from being spiked.

How to avoid drink spiking

If your drink has been spiked it's unlikely that you will see, smell or taste a difference. If you feel ill, slightly drunk or wasted when you know you shouldn’t, your drink could have been spiked. If so, tell someone you trust and get to a safe place.

Avoid getting spiked by following these safety measures:

• avoid binge-drinking – lots of alcohol in a short period of time can increase your chance of being spiked
• never leave your drink unattended
• keep an eye on your friends' drinks
• don't accept a drink from someone you don't know or trust
• try sticking to bottled drinks and avoid punch bowls or jugs of cocktails
• if you think your drink has been spiked, don't drink it – tell a trusted friend or relative immediately.

How will I know if my drink has been spiked?

Most drugs take effect within 15-30 minutes and symptoms usually last for several hours.

Symptoms will depend on which drug has been used, but most include some of the following:

• blurred vision
• confusion or disorientation
• difficulty concentrating or speaking
• feeling and being sick
• hallucinations
• loss of balance and finding it hard to move
• lowered inhibitions
• memory loss
• paranoia
• unconsciousness

What to do if your drink is spiked

First, tell someone you completely trust, such as:

• a friend
• a relative
• a medical professional
• the police

If you are alone, call someone you trust and get to a safe place. If you need urgent help, call 999. If you don’t have your phone, ask to use the bar’s/club’s phone. Don’t leave with someone you don’t know and be wary of accepting help from strangers.

If you feel unwell, get someone you trust to take you to A&E. Ask a friend or relative you trust to take you home and stay with you until the drugs have left your system.

Report it to the police as soon as you can. The police will need to take blood and urine samples. Most drugs leave the body within 72 hours so it's important to be tested as soon as possible.

Read more on the NHS website.