Alcohol Fact Sheet

Effects of alcohol

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk.

It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug.

Alcohol affects everyone differently, based on:

Size, weight and health
Whether the person is used to taking it
Whether other drugs are taken around the same time
The amount drunk
The strength of the drink

You may experience:

Feeling relaxed
Trouble concentrating
Slower reflexes
Increased confidence
Feeling happier or sadder, depending on your mood

If you consume a lot of alcohol, you might experience:

Confusion
Blurred vision
Clumsiness
Memory loss
Nausea, vomiting
Passing out
Coma
Death
Hangovers

The following day, you may have a hangover, which is:

Headache
Diarrhoea and nausea
Tiredness and trembling
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Dry mouth and eyes
Trouble concentrating
Anxiety
Restless sleep

Sobering up

To sober up takes time. The liver gets rid of about one standard drink an hour. Sweating it out with exercise, cold showers, coffee, fresh air or vomiting will not speed up the process. They may ease the symptoms, but they do not remove alcohol from the bloodstream any faster. This means it may not be safe to drive or work the following day.

Long term effects

Regular use of alcohol may eventually cause:
Regular colds or flu
Difficulty getting an erection
Depression
Poor memory and brain damage
Difficulty having children
Liver disease
Cancer
High blood pressure and heart disease
Needing to drink more to get the same effect
Dependence on alcohol
Financial, work and social problems

Drinking alcohol with other drugs

The effects of drinking and taking other drugs − including over-the-counter or prescribed medications − can be unpredictable and dangerous, and could cause:

Alcohol + cannabis: nausea, vomiting, panic, anxiety and paranoia.

Alcohol + energy drinks (with caffeine), ice, speed or ecstasy: more risky behaviour, body under great stress, overdose more likely.

Alcohol + GHB or benzodiazepines: decreased heart rate, overdose more likely.

Withdrawal

Giving up alcohol after drinking it for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without it. Please seek advice from a health professional. Withdrawal symptoms usually start about 4 to 12 hours after the last drink and can last for about 4 to 5 days. These symptoms can include: