Consequences of Drinking

The Consequences of drinking

In moderation alcohol can be a good thing, it can help to relax people, although it should not be abused and used to deal with long-term stress or anxiety, as ultimately it will increase both of these. It can also help people who are shy to be more relaxed and confident in social situations, through its disinhibiting effects. Although, once again, it should not be used as an everyday confidence booster as ultimately it can lead to an increase in anxiety that can often result in panic attacks and phobias.

Although the relaxing and disinhibiting effects may be responsible for part of the “buzz” that alcohol brings they can also lead to people saying or doing things that they may regret later, because the alcohol has affected their ability to reason or think things through logically they may not consider the consequences of their actions and the implications they might have for their future. This might include:

Spending more money than you meant to buying drinks when you cannot really afford it and having to go without something else you wanted or needed to buy such as food or clothing

Saying or doing something to a friend(s), a family member(s) or a partner that may lead to the break down of the relationship with that person or group of people

Doing something really embarrassing like getting off with someone you would not have usually gone for and having to deal with the consequences at school or work the next day

Taking drugs which may, react badly with the alcohol, have a range of their own unpleasant side affects, lead to a more serious drug problem or result in death

Committing a crime leading to a criminal record that may affect chances of employment in the future or might lead to fines, community punishment or detainment

Unprotected sex that might lead to an unplanned pregnancy or result in a sexually transmitted infection which might affect future sexual relationships or the ability to have children

Going home with a stranger or leaving on your own which may make you vulnerable and put you at risk of being robbed, abducted, attacked, raped or even murdered

Drink driving that may lead to a driving ban, a fine, imprisonment or that may result in an accident or even death

If the memory is also affected at this point you may not even remember what you did and that may be even more embarrassing when other people remind you or can have implications in terms of not getting the support you need such as advice on sexual health or taking the morning after pill in time to prevent a pregnancy.

When a person’s ability to reason and use logic is affected they may also react inappropriately in certain situations or in response to environment cues. For example if someone bumps into them and spills their drink that person might normally just accept an apology and walk away. Whereas if they have been drinking they may think that the person has done it on purpose or may think an apology is not enough. Although it has not been proven that alcohol leads to an increase in violent or aggressive behaviour, the number of instances where it is involved with domestic violence, child abuse and aggressive / violent crimes proves it is an important contributing factor.

People often report using alcohol as a self-medication aid to help them to sleep but in actual fact it can often be the cause of long-term fatigue and sleep problems (insomnia). Although alcohol does make you tired and, if consumed in excess causes people to pass out, it actually disrupts natural, restful sleep. People who use alcohol regularly actually report problems with getting to sleep at night or find they wake up early in the morning and are unable to get back to sleep.

If a person drinks enough alcohol for their co-ordination and movement to be affected they may be at risk of accidentally injuring or even killing themselves, 20% of acute hospital admissions involve alcohol as a factor. Accident and Emergency departments deal with a massive increase in the number of patients with cuts, bruises, breaks, sprains and concussions over the weekend. For some their injuries are more serious and may result in lasting damage and in some cases death.

When someone reaches the stage where his or her basic functions start to be affected they should be supervised and may even require medical assistance. If someone vomits whilst they are unconscious, because the alcohol dulls their reflexes they will not automatically cough to clear the obstruction it causes in their throat, this leaves them at risk of inhaling their vomit and suffocating on it. Also if a person consumes a lot of alcohol in a short period of time they may be at risk of alcohol poisoning.