What It Is: A drug contained in beverages such as beer, wine, wine coolers, or liquor. Ethyl alcohol is the form of alcohol in beer, wine, and hard liquor. (WARNING- this type of alcohol is different than rubbing alcohol).
Type of Drug: Central Nervous System Depressant
Method of Use: Drink it
What It Does: A small amount of alcohol slows down the ability to think clearly and make decisions and causes people to feel more daring than usual and take risks. A larger amount slows down other areas of the brain and nervous system, causes dizziness, decreases coordination, and decreases reaction time. In addition to these effects, drinking alcohol also can lead to fighting, arguing, and violence, talking louder than usual, silliness, giddiness, and giggling. Further, drinking alcohol may cause a person to black out or pass out. When a person blacks out he or she is still conscious but has a loss of memory. This causes a person not to remember what happened while he or she was blacked out. To pass out means that the person becomes unconscious. (WARNING: this is very dangerous. If you ever observe someone who has passed out from drinking too much alcohol, call for help and make sure that person is on his or her side. There is the danger of vomiting while passed out and the person could choke and die).
Health Risks: Long term physical effects of using alcohol include Cirrhosis of the liver, which is a major cause of death, and stomach ulcers. A long-term behavioral effect for some may be depression. In addition, If a person drinks too much alcohol at one time it is possible to overdose and die. When a person drinks beyond his or her lethal limit (BAC= .30 or above) it will effect the person’s Vital Centers in the brain, which control the body’s automatic functions such as heart beat, breathing, and body temperature. The result of this is death.
Legal Status: Legal for people over the age of 21 years old. Legal blood alcohol content for driving a car for 21 years old or above is .08. Under 21 years old .02 is legal limit because drinking alcohol under 21 years of age is illegal. This is less than one drink for most people.
Alcohol affects individuals differently. Your blood alcohol level may be affected by your age, gender, physical condition, amount of food consumed and any drugs or medication. In addition, different drinks may contain different amounts of alcohol, so it's important to know how much and the concentration of alcohol you consume.For purposes of this guide, "one drink" is equal to 1.25 oz. of 80 proof liquor, 12 oz. of regular beer, or 5 oz. of table wine.
In Massachucetts, .08% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is the legal limit for Driving Under the Influence. For commercial drivers, a BAC of .04% can result in a DUI conviction nationwide.
IMPAIRMENT BEGINS WITH YOUR FIRST DRINK.
FOR SAFETY'S SAKE, NEVER DRIVE AFTER DRINKING!
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