Alcohol
Nicknames:
booze, bevvy, juice, sauce, brews, grog, piss, etc.
What it is:
Natural product arising from the fermentation of fruit, vegetables or grain.
How it is used:
Drunk in drinks such as beer, lager, alcopops, cider, wine and spirits. The higher the % marked on the label, the more alcohol the drink contains.
The highs:
In small amounts can help people to relax and feel sociable. Can make people talkative, and more likely to do things that they would not consider doing if they were sober.
The lows:
Alcohol can cause temporary blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of balance, poor judgement, poor coordination, and heightened emotions. Due to judgement being impaired by alcohol, there is an increased risk of injury and accident. Drinking alcohol can cause "hangovers" which can make you feel ill for a day or two. Alcohol is a depressant drug - if you are feeling down, drinking alcohol will make you feel worse. Mixing alcohol with other drugs can be very dangerous. Alcohol is psychologically and physiologically addictive. Long term overuse of alcohol can lead to serious liver, heart and stomach problems. Overdose of alcohol can cause alcoholic poisoning, which can in some instances be FATAL. Overdose can also lead to loss of consciousness, following which users risk choking on their own vomit, which can also be FATAL.
The law:
In most circumstances, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy alcohol, or be bought alcohol by somebody who knows their age.
For more information, visit the alcohol section.
Contacts
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