You and Alcohol Lecture - Transition Year Report

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'You and Alcohol' Lecture   (by Zara Reidy 4E)
St. Vincent's Hospital, 20th September 2010
 
The following is a report on the lecture attended by all 4th Year students.  The lecture was given by Greg Conlon, Health promotion Officer SVUH.
The lecture was very informative, interesting and interactive.  We watched video clips from the television show 'The Inbetweeners' to show us a typical example of under-age teenagers trying to get served alcohol.  This video clip outlined the laws on the legal drinking age of alcohol and the use of fake IDs.
We were taught how to pour a correct measure of alcohol.  We were shown that it is easy to become confused when measuring the correct measure of alcohol because all glasses are different shapes and sizes.
We did a quiz to try to distinguish between the myths and facts about the consumption of alcohol and its effects.  I found this very interesting because it cleared up issues that I was uncertain about.
 I thought that this was a very good lecture because we were given tips and advice about the appropriate way to go about drinking alcohol when we reach the appropriate age.  Overall I found this lecture beneficial, interesting and I learned a lot.
 
Facts I learned:
  • Men can handle more alcohol than women because they have more bodily fluids
  • The size and weight of a person does not influence the amount of alcohol that they can handle
  • It takes one hour to break down one alcoholic drink
  • The only thing to make you sober again is time
  • Coffee and cold showers do not make you sober
  • You should eat properly throughout the day before you start to drink
  • Six or more drinks in a night is considered binge drinking
  • Drinking before the age of sixteen impairs the brain
  • Adult women should not have more than 14 standard drinks per week
  • Teenagers should have no more than half of this amount
  • Adult men should have no more than 21 standard drinks per week
  • 50% of Accident & Emergency calls after midnight are alcohol related
  • Drinking at a young age increases your chances of becoming an alcoholic later on in life
  • Many unwanted pregnancies are a result of alcohol or drugs abuse
  • Drink non-alcoholic drinks in between alcoholic drinks
  • Avoid playing drinking games and drink at your own pace
  • Never walk away and leave your drink unattended
  • Know how much you can handle and stick by it
  • Drink in moderation and preferably with meals
  • Take care if you are on other medication
  • Never drink and drive
  • Never get in a car with someone who drinks and drives
 
By Zara Reidy 4E