Alcohol can cause a lot of harm physically and psychologically as well as the harm it causes to families, communities and to society generally. For more information on any of these areas of harm click on the headings to follow the links.

Physically

Alcohol can have devastating effects on the body in the long term, and heavy drinking can lead to a number of serious life threatening conditions. There is a worrying increase in the number of younger people being admitted to hospital with liver problems caused by their alcohol consumption. There is also the short term physical damage that binge drinking can lead to such as physical injuries sustained whilst drunk, alcohol poisoning and physical withdrawal symptoms. People are also more likely to be hurt or hurt others when they have been drinking.

Psychologically

Alcohol is a chemical that affects the way the brain can do its job, in the short term it can cause depression, irritability and problems with memory and concentration. In the longer term it can have more serious consequences such as panic attacks, mood swings, insomnia, clinical depression and suicide. One person’s alcohol use can also affect the psychological and emotional well being of the people around them.

Domestic

Alcohol is a massive problem in the home and is implicated in over half the cases of domestic violence and child abuse in the UK. An individuals drink problem can also lead to disputes between family members and friends, sometimes leading to the break down of these friendships and relationships. Heavy drinking can also lead to problems with debt when money meant for food & bills is used to buy alcohol instead. Alcohol can affect a person’s ability to attend school or work costing people their education or their job as well as affecting their chances of future employment.

Society

Everyday in the UK between 8-14million workdays are lost due to illness caused by alcohol use. Accidents both at home, at work and on the roads are more likely to occur when the people involved have been drinking and the crime rates show an annual increase in the number of drink related crimes. One fifth of acute hospital admissions involve alcohol as do 65% of suicides, and 25, 000 deaths per year are attributable to this socially acceptable drug.