Alcohol

Let’s be honest, university, for many, is a hotbed for alcohol consumption. For lot's of those who enjoy a drink at university, it's just that, an enjoyable experience; social drinks with friends in bars and clubs can allow you to have a fun packed night out. BUT with all good things come their limitations and for some, drinking to excess leads to disorientation, lowered inhibitions, awful hangovers and, in extreme cases, dependence.

On the night: Eat a good carby meal before you drink. Don’t drive! Research public transport and be prepared not to drink if you're designated driver. Walk home with friends, no matter how invincible you feel at 2am with a beer coat, you're not, so think smart in the dark. If you can’t be good, be very careful...

What if I don’t want to drink?

There is no reason why those who choose not to drink need to stick together - most students interact freely regardless of the number of units (or not) they imbibe during the week. There is no pressure to drink alcohol, and the vast majority of students will respect the decision of others not to drink. Most students, if they do drink, drink to moderation, and regardless of anyone’s social habits, everyone should find themselves able to participate fully in all events and activities.

It is often assumed that many of the sports clubs are completely alcohol-orientated, but this is not the case. There are a large number of non-drinkers in many teams and so this should never act as a barrier to getting involved. As a member you may feel pressured into drinking, but you can always have a coke or something, so try to stay around.

We do have unlicensed areas, and we hope that this enables more students to use the facility.

Do I have a problem?

This is a question only you can answer. However, if you are at all worried, there are ways you can address your concern. The Counsellors are available to talk to, but if you want to find out some info privately, try calling Alcoholics Anonymous (24 hour helpline 0845 769 7555). There is also the option of speaking to Drinkline - If you're worried about drinking, whether it's your own habit or someone else's Tel: 0800 917 8282.  If you are struggling and don’t know where to turn the Students’ Union officers can help, and want to. Healthcare professionals are at a much greater risk of suffering from alcohol related problems, and healthcare students are no exception so don't worry away in silence.

Conclusion

Drink if you want, don’t if you don’t. Always be aware of the consequences of your actions and don’t let anything get out of control.

• 1 unit =  1/2 pint of ordinary strength lager
• 1/4 pint of strong beer/lager or cider
• 1 single measure of spirits (28 units in a 75cl bottle)
• 1/3 glass of wine (12%)

• 3-4 units per day for men (including 2 alcohol free days per week)
• 2-3 units per day for women (including 2 alcohol free days per week)

This is often more simply expressed as 21 units weekly for men and 14 for women. However these have been recently revised into daily amounts as it was felt they were being misinterpreted as meaning no alcohol all week, then 21/14 units on a Saturday night. It would be worth trying to remember both though. Long periods of abstinence followed by binge drinking is not considered to be safe.

And to congratulate you for reading all the way to the end of this fact file, here are 5 alcohol facts to impress your friends with:

• Every gram of alcohol you drink equals an extra 10mm of pee. That’s why there’s always a queue for the loos!
   
• With almost 7 calories per gram, alcohol has almost has the same calorie content as pure fat (never mind the post-pub kebab). So you might want to take a night off now and again…
   
• Gin really can make you cry. Alcohol is a depressant – it slows down the parts of your brain that control your emotions (called the limbic system), so you experience exaggerated emotional state.
   
• A premium 5% lager has the same number of calories as a slice of pepperoni pizza (about 250). Think about that the next time you’re at the gym and consider a lower alcohol beer or a healthy meal before heading out.
   
• Each unit of alcohol (one shot of spirits, half a pint or a small (125ml) glass of wine) takes one hour for your body to process.
  So, none of the sobering up myths you might have heard like drinking astrong coffee will make any difference. NOTHING you can do will speed up the processing of the units of alcohol you've consumed so that's why it's important to space out the alcohol you drink with glasses of water or soft drinks.