Sexual Activity:
Often alcohol consumption means that people feel more relaxed and may lose their inhibitions. This is usually fine if you are in a position to make rational decisions, the real problems begin when this is not the case. It is not possible to simply relate the amount of alcohol that you drink to whether or not you will have sex, but it is generally agreed that if you are drunk you are more likely to have unprotected sex, which increases the risk of Sexual Transmitted Infections and Pregnancy.
Pregnancy:
Women should be wary of drinking any alcohol whilst pregnant because it can have a detrimental effect on the health of the baby. The Department of Health recommends that pregnant women, or women that are trying to get pregnant, should never drink any more than 1 - 2 units per week. There are some doctors who believe that you should refrain from drinking any alcohol at all. Alcohol will transfer into the baby’s bloodstream via the placenta, and babies in their early stages of development will be most affected by alcohol. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to:
| • | Low Birth weight for baby |
| • | Miscarriage |
| • | Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (likely if mother drinks heavily and regularly throughout pregnancy and can cause birth defects) |
Alcohol Dependency:
The more reliant you are on alcohol as a young person, the more likely it is that you will be alcohol dependent as an adult.
Drink Driving:
It is illegal for anyone to drive with more than 80mg per 100ml of their blood. This is because alcohol can seriously affect your reaction times and you will find it more difficult to judge how fast you should be travelling and your stopping distances. According to the Department of Transport, you are 50 times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash if you are twice the legal alcohol limit. It is difficult to measure the legal alcohol limit by the number of drinks that you have consumed because it can depend on a number of factors such as your size, weight, age, the type of alcohol beverage, and what food you’ve eaten. It is therefore advisable that you do not drink alcohol before driving. If you are caught driving over the limit, you could be fined £5000, receive 6 months in prison and have your driving licence withdrawn for at least one year.
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