Alcohol and its effects

There are a number of short-term and long-term effects of alcohol consumption – the extent of these effects will all depend on the amount and manner in which you drink.

Drinking at moderate levels will have the least negative impact on the body, whereas drinking at hazardous levels will take its toll. Short-term effects of drinking to excess can be weight gain, hangovers and alcohol poisoning. When drinking to excess people can also become more susceptible to other dangers, such as risk of injury, verbal or physical abuse and unsafe or unwanted sex.

Alcohol can enter the bloodstream very quickly. Unlike food, it doesn’t require digestion and once consumed it can reach the brain within minutes. Once in the bloodstream it goes through to the liver, where it is estimated to take an hour to eliminate one drink – so if more alcohol is absorbed in the liver than what it can handle, excess alcohol will travel to all different parts of the body, circulating until the liver is finally able to process it. This will cause hangovers and leave you feeling tired and groggy.

To learn more about the effects that alcohol can have on your body, then go to:

Alcohol and Your Health
www.healthchecksystems.com/alcohol.htm

Alcohol
www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/a-z/alcohol.html

Fact Sheet on Alcohol
www.druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?id=Alcohol&ContainerID=drug

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