LET64 Think about the Drink resized
HEALTH
LEVEL 4
HPE4C.3
Participating and Contributing
Think About The Drink Alcohol is a drug that some people use and which affects the brain and body Alcohol is found in beer, wine and spirits. It is created by fermentation - when yeast breaks down the sugars in different foods. Wine is made from the sugar in grapes, beer from the sugar in barley, cider from the sugar in apples, and spirits from the sugar in plants as different as wheat and potatoes. Alcohol is a depressant (downer) which means it slows down the rate at which the brain sends messages around the body. This causes short-term problems with coordination, eyesight, slurred speech and sleepiness. Being drunk refers to the changed and the uncontrolled way in which a person may behave after drinking alcohol. Young people are at a higher risk of harm from alcohol because their brains are still developing and alcohol can affect memory and learning. Decision-making is affected in people who are under the influence of alcohol. Delaying the decision to drink alcohol is the safest option for young people. Most adults who choose to drink alcohol do so in a controlled way. They watch how much they drink each hour, and may have a meal with their beverage and drink slowly. The liver in an adult’s body is only able to break down a certain amount of alcohol per hour. This is referred to as a standard drink. A standard drink is 330 ml beer, 100 ml wine or 30 ml spirits per hour. Many bottled alcoholic drinks and those served at bars contain more than a standard drink. Alcohol abuse can lead to long-term problems such as liver damage, depression, addiction, heart disease, and stomach ulcers. Why do you think someone might choose to drink alcohol? Why do you think someone might choose not to drink alcohol?
Connect! Alcohol - what are the effects? 1. Discuss these statements with your class. What do you think? • • • •
Drinking can help people forget about their problems. A person can sober up by drinking coffee. If people mix alcohol with fizzy drinks they will not be affected by alcohol. It is okay for someone to drink large amounts of alcohol if they are not planning to drive. • Getting ‘wasted’ is a normal part of growing up. • Better education about the effects of alcohol will reduce alcohol abuse. 2. Listed below are a variety of effects of alcohol on the human body when drunk in excess. Arrange them under the heading and discuss your ideas as a class.
For more great activities, visit www.lifeeducation.org.nz
LEVEL 4
HPE4C.3
Participating and Contributing
Think About The Drink Alcohol is a drug that some people use and which affects the brain and body Alcohol is found in beer, wine and spirits. It is created by fermentation - when yeast breaks down the sugars in different foods. Wine is made from the sugar in grapes, beer from the sugar in barley, cider from the sugar in apples, and spirits from the sugar in plants as different as wheat and potatoes. Alcohol is a depressant (downer) which means it slows down the rate at which the brain sends messages around the body. This causes short-term problems with coordination, eyesight, slurred speech and sleepiness. Being drunk refers to the changed and the uncontrolled way in which a person may behave after drinking alcohol. Young people are at a higher risk of harm from alcohol because their brains are still developing and alcohol can affect memory and learning. Decision-making is affected in people who are under the influence of alcohol. Delaying the decision to drink alcohol is the safest option for young people. Most adults who choose to drink alcohol do so in a controlled way. They watch how much they drink each hour, and may have a meal with their beverage and drink slowly. The liver in an adult’s body is only able to break down a certain amount of alcohol per hour. This is referred to as a standard drink. A standard drink is 330 ml beer, 100 ml wine or 30 ml spirits per hour. Many bottled alcoholic drinks and those served at bars contain more than a standard drink. Alcohol abuse can lead to long-term problems such as liver damage, depression, addiction, heart disease, and stomach ulcers. Why do you think someone might choose to drink alcohol? Why do you think someone might choose not to drink alcohol?
Connect! Alcohol - what are the effects? 1. Discuss these statements with your class. What do you think? • • • •
Drinking can help people forget about their problems. A person can sober up by drinking coffee. If people mix alcohol with fizzy drinks they will not be affected by alcohol. It is okay for someone to drink large amounts of alcohol if they are not planning to drive. • Getting ‘wasted’ is a normal part of growing up. • Better education about the effects of alcohol will reduce alcohol abuse. 2. Listed below are a variety of effects of alcohol on the human body when drunk in excess. Arrange them under the heading and discuss your ideas as a class.
For more great activities, visit www.lifeeducation.org.nz
