Key Terms
Alcohol- drug that depresses the brain and nervous system.
Fermentation-a process where yeast, sugar, and water are combined to make alcohol and carbon dioxide.
Distillation- a process that uses a fermented mixture to obtain an alcoholic beverage with very high alcohol %.
Types of Alcohol Beer-made by fermenting barley, corn, or rye.
Around 4% Alcohol Malt Liquor is a higher % beer Light beer has roughly same % alcohol but less calories.
Wine –made by fermenting grapes and other fruits 12-14 % alcohol Wine coolers are carbonated and contain much lower alcohol %
Liquor-made by distillation. Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye, Rum, Vodka, Brandy, and Tequila Most around 40 % alcohol Measured by Proof which is double the alcohol %
Alcohol in the Body Alcohol enters the blood stream in minutes
About 20 percent through the stomach walls Majority of it through the intestine walls The rest excreted through urine, perspiration, or
breath. What happens to it?
Alcohol is changed to harmless waste by the liver Liver can only process about one drink an hour
• What is left builds up in the body• The more that is consumed the stronger the effects• Alcohol is measured by BAC. Blood Alcohol
Concentration
How much is a Drink?
One Half Ounce is considered a drink of alcohol. 1 beer 4-5 ounces of wine 1 shot 1 mixed drink
What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a toxin A toxin is a poisonous substance to the body If too much is consumed the stomach rejects
it causing the individual to vomit. The body tries to break down alcohol as fast
as it can• Why would someone be drunk the next day?• Does coffee, fresh air, showers help with
intoxication level?
BAC Factors that effect Blood Alcohol Content
Amount of alcohol consumed• Number of drinks and strength
Speed it is consumed• Faster increases BAC• Can be dangerous
Body weight• Bigger body=more blood
Percentage of body fat• Lean body tissue is more absorbent
Gender• Females
Less stomach enzymes to break down alcohol in stomach to enter blood stream.
Less lean body tissue
BAC More Factors
Feelings• Stress, anger, and fear can speed up the time it takes alcohol to
enter the bloodstream Food eaten
• If someone has alcohol on an empty stomach the alcohol enters the bloodstream much faster.
Other drugs in the system• Tranquilizers and painkillers can heighten the effects of alcohol.
Age• Elderly people are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol
Carbonation• Carbonated beverages pass through the bloodstream faster then
non-carbonated beverages.
Drinking Games and Hazing Hazing-being forced to take part in dangerous or
demanding activities to become a member of a club or group.
Some teens have died They are against the law in most states and also
against most school rules Drinking games can be dangerous because it
can cause binge drinking. Binge drinking
• Consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short time.
What happens as BAC Increases? 0.02-feel relaxed 0.05-speech may slur, decreased coordination and
reaction time. .08-.1-Reasoning, judgment, self control, muscular
coordination and reaction time are seriously slowed. .12-confused and disoriented. May start to vomit. .2-emotions are unpredictable and may change
drastically. .3- little or no control/most people can not stay awake
during this time. .4-likely to become unconscious. Breathing and heart
rate slow. Death can occur. .5-people may enter deep coma and die.
How Alcohol affects the Body Nervous system
Impairs the brain and other parts of the nervous system, such as nerve cells.• May cause blackouts, seizures, and dementia
Digestive system Ulcer open sore on the skin or on a mucus membrane.
• Alcohol increases the secretion of stomach acids. Liver disease-three stages
• 1st stage- the liver becomes enlarged with fatty tissue.• 2nd stage- liver swells even more because of alcohol hepatitis.
Can cause serious illness or death• 3rd stage-can cause cirrhosis which is when there is chronic damage to liver cells.
Can cause liver failure or death. Only way to treat advanced stages is to have a liver transplant
Reproductive system During puberty it can
• postpone menstruation for women• Decrease size of testes for men
How Alcohol affects the Body Immune system
Depresses the function of the immune system Long term drinking lowers the number of infection fighting cells in the
body. Cardiovascular
May damage cardiovascular organs• Increased risk for
Cardiovascular disease High blood pressure Stroke
Skeletal System Makes the body lose calcium Long term?
Urinary system Long term can increase kidney failure
Drinking During Pregnancy Drinking alcohol any time during pregnancy is very
dangerous for the baby. It will always reach the baby through the blood stream
Increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth More likely to have babies with a low birth weight Newborns can go through withdrawal symptoms if their
mothers drink during the latter part of pregnancy (FAS) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome-Babies born with severe
birth defects because mother was drinking during pregancy
Small slit eyes Small head Delayed physical and mental growth
Thinking and Decision Making in Regards to Alcohol
Changes decisions May not follow standards, morals, beliefs
• Break the law• Cause harm physically and socially• Break household rules
Makes you feel invincible Cause physical harm i.e.…..jumping of a roof
Intensify sexual feelings Heightens the risk for STD’s
Thinking and Decision Making in Regards to Alcohol
Slows reaction time and coordination Different activities or even walking down the street.
More aggressive Violence is much more prevalent when alcohol is
involved
Intensify emotions Whatever you would feel normally is almost doubled
when alcohol is involved• Suicide attempts
Thinking and Decision Making in Regards to Alcohol
False sense of self confidence Social crutch
Hangover Headache Increased sensitivity to light Vomiting Irritability
Blackouts Have no recollection of what happened for periods of time
Increased chances for alcoholism for teens
Violence
Domestic violence Many cases of domestic violence involve
alcohol. Rape
When alcohol or other drugs are involved the chances for rape increase
Again Why?
Laws
Under 21 Underage drinking starts at .02 BAC Drivers under 21 are legally drunk at .02 or
more BAC 21 or over
Drivers are legally drunk at .08 BAC or more Public Drunkenness
• If acting intoxicated No set BAC level
Alcoholism A physical and physiological dependence on alcohol. Not all alcoholics drink everyday
Binge drinking alcoholics Functioning alcoholics Hard to cure
Denial-acceptance is the first step Withdrawal
• Nauseous • Anxious• Agitated • Tremor or “the shakes”• vomiting
Getting Help Alcoholism is a disease, like most diseases it
can be treated Alcoholics need treatment, usually short and long term Alcoholics anonymous or AA is the most common
Signs that show higher risk individuals for alcoholism
Genetics Childhood behavior Psychiatric Disorders Self-esteem Parents
Advertisement When are they?
What are the people in the advertisements doing and how do they look?
Do they inspire loyalty?
How are they advertised?
What do they try and make you think?
Peer Pressure
What are some tips for saying NO?
What is the best way to not have peer pressure to drink alcohol or do drugs?
Does who you associate with affect what you will be around?
With a Partner
Write down a scenario where someone would receive peer pressure do drink.
Then give several ways the individual could say no.
