During the alcohol and binge drinking assessment, we had to create a fun and interesting way to teach students about the effects of binge drinking and other topics to do with staying safe. This experience and opportunity has taught me lots about the topic of safe drinking and how to react to certain things. My group consisted of Charlotte, Stephanie and myself, we created a video that would teach the other students about: how to host a safe party for teenagers, how to help someone who is drunk and the effects of binge-drinking.
What I learnt
One of the main things that I learnt from this experience and task, was how many standard drinks you were supposed to have over a day (4 standard drinks) and a
week (10 standard drinks) in order to stay safe and sober. Standard drinks are a way to keep track of how much alcohol you’re drinking, they are a type of measuring unit. There are different standard drinks in different types of drinks, which is why you’re not supposed to mix drinks and and should keep track. There are different ways that you can track the amount of drinks you are having per night, such as reading the labelling (it is normally located on the back), using an online calculator (the Drinks Calculator or the Standard Drink Calculator are examples) or asking the bartender or restaurant staff if you order a mixed drink such as a pinacolato or cocktail. A standard drink in Australia is ten grams of alcoholic substance.
Another important topic that I learnt more about was the effects binge-drinking could have on someone. When drinking alcohol, you start feeling the effects of it within the 5 to 10 minutes of drinking. Binge-drinking can cause a series of short-term and long-term impacts that can affect the body. Around 90 percent of alcohol in your blood is broken down by the liver; the rest is excreted through the lungs, kidneys or in sweat, for most people, the liver can only break down one standard drink per hour, if you drink more than that, your blood alcohol content (BAC) will increase. Binge-drinking can lead to death from alcohol poisoning or by depressing the gag reflex, which puts a person who has passed out at the risk of choking on their vomit as well as affecting your actions, which can increase your risk of injuries and death from vehicle accidents, drowning, suffocation, and other accidents. These are some of the short-term impacts that binge-drinking can have on you, but the long-term effect are much worse.
These can include:
- The risk of several cancers; including cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, colon, and rectum
- Long-term alcohol use can also lead to alcoholic liver disease, which includes inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis
- It is also bad for the cardiovascular system, which can then lead to an increased risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat
First, you have to make sure you stay with them at all times in case they try to do anything harmful to themselves or others. Next, you should give them food. Stopping alcohol consumption and giving someone food and water is the next step in making sure they are okay. Drinking on an empty stomach can be very sickening. Step three is to get them into the recovery position. have the person lay on their side with a pillow to support their back, this position will help prevent them from rolling onto their back or stomach, which can cause them to choke if they vomit. Make sure, that after putting them in this position, you keep them awake. If the person starts sleeping, check their breathing, and wake them often to ensure they are still okay. Once you have done this, get them home safe or find a responsible and trustworthy adult who can take care of them.
Advice for teens!
The main piece of advice that I would give to young teenagers would be that you should never, ever, drink because someone says it is cool or because you want to ‘fit in’. If your peers are drinking under the legal limit, it is important that you are not swayed by peer pressure and remember that it is okay if you say ‘no’ if you think that someone is trying to force you to do something that is not right. Peer pressure can have huge impacts on your decision,which can be very dangerous and misleading.
I would want to pass this advice on to young teenagers because it is something that is important to know and to learn about as many children have been mislead and still are, because they think that they will be judged and cut off from the group if they say ‘no’. Peer pressure is a real problem that is going around all over the world, but by knowing that it is okay to say ‘no’, and that it is for the best can protect you, and keep your body healthy.
Pledge and commitments
The Pledge
I pledge to never drink alcohol under the Australian legal age of 18. When/if I choose to drink, I will make sure that I am careful with the amount of alcoholic substance I am consuming, and make sure to keep track of the standards drinks to ensure my safety and well-being. I pledge to protect and guide my friends if they make mistakes along the way and ensure that they are safe and do no harm to themselves, or anyone else. I also pledge to help teach the next generations about safe drinking so that they can protect themselves and others from the mistakes they may make, just like many before them.
Why I chose to commit to these things
I chose to commit to these things as it is important to know how much alcoholic fluids I am intaking and the legal age that I may begin drinking (if I choose to), as it can have a massive impact on your brain and well-being when you are a child, which could lead to a large mistake in my future. I also decided to commit to keeping track of how much I am drinking as I now know the risks of binge-drinking and the long-term and short-term impacts, which is why it is important not to drink over the limit. I also pledged to help and guide my friends through the difficulties of safe drinking because I now understand the effects it can have on them and would not want to see that happen to someone I care about, or anyone at all. I also pledged to do this as they may make rash decisions, which can lead to them hurting themselves or others around them. I will also commit to helping younger generations know the impacts of drinking underage so that they can live a safer and healthier life than some are. I have also chosen to commit to this because it can tear a large hole in a child’s future and leave a great impact that can potentially end their future dream.
How I will stick to these commitments
I will commit to these things because they will not only benefit my own health and well-being, but will also give me the knowledge and understanding to help my friends and family who may get mislead or pressure into doing something that is not right. These commitments will also give me a brighter future as I will not doing anything that can potentially/will damage my mental health and risk the things that I have/will have planned. I will commit to these things by reminding myself why I am doing this; for myself, my friends, and my family. Having alcohol under the legal age is a mistake many children and teenagers make, which is something that I believe needs to be acknowledged more and that every young teenager knows the risks of.
Our Assessment Video