How Alcohol Affects Your Body

Alcohol is the most widely used LEGAL drug in the world. But what is it exactly?

There are different types of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks contain the chemical ethanol. This is a by-product of the fermentation process. When yeast or bacteria react with the sugars in food - the by-products are ethanol and carbon dioxide.

*Photo credit – pixy.org

There are different types of alcohol. Different alcohol contains different amounts of ethanol – this is why some drinks are stronger than others.

Alcoholic drinks sometimes feel like a stimulant, but alcohol is actually a depressant. This means it slows down your central nervous system.

How does alcohol affect us?

It is important to understand how alcohol can affect our body – both positively and negatively. Understanding how alcohol affects us can help us maintain a healthier relationship with alcohol and stay safer when drinking.

Short Term Effects

There are several short term effects of alcohol. This can vary from person to person with many things impacting the effects of alcohol, e.g. how often and how much the person is drinking.

• Hangover (dehydration which may lead to a headache, sickness, tiredness, no appetite and feeling low or emotional)

• More sociable

• Disturbed sleep

• Increasing feelings of stress or anxiety

• An impaired judgement (could lead to accidents and injuries)

• Slurred speech

• Increase sex drive

• Blurred vision

• Happy, sad or angry.

• Memory loss or black-outs

• Sickness or vomiting