Why is alcohol classed as a depressant when it makes me feel lively?
Alcohol slows down your brain, and a product of this is to release your inhibitions, making you feel artificially stimulated. You may feel more able to talk to strangers or to indulge in activities such as karaoke – this is probably better known as “Dutch Courage”!

What is a unit of alcohol?
A unit is simply what we use to describe the alcohol content of any alcoholic drink. It acts as a standard measure and enables us to be more precise about how much alcohol we have consumed. Click here to work out how many units or alcohol there are in any drink.

I thought red wine was good for my heart?
Yes…but only if you are a man over 40 years old or a woman who is post-menopausal, and drinking no more than 1-2 units per day. Above these levels alcohol causes a rise in blood pressure, and this is one of the causes of coronary heart disease! Below 40 years and pre-menopause there are no protective effects!

But surely stout is good for me?
The myth here is to do with iron. Some professionals, including Doctors still advise people to drink stout for the iron content. The reality is, that although it is possible to do this, you actually need 35 pints a day of the stuff! Not an easy challenge! To compound this, the alcohol contained within the drink acts as a barrier to your body absorbing the iron!

Why don’t I get a hangover when I drink more than I used to?
You will have developed a tolerance to the alcohol. Your body now needs more of the substance to attain the same level of effect. Most people who drink regularly will have developed some tolerance. If you are concerned give Prism a call.

Should I be worried about alcopops?
Alcopops are really no different to most other alcoholic drinks – apart from the packaging. The real issue is the alcohol itself – for example; a typical alcopop may be 5% alcohol by volume and contain 1.5 units of alcohol. Half a pint of bitter/lager/cider with the same a.b.v. would also contain 1.5 units. They are also comparatively expensive compared to drinks such as strong ciders – which are usually sold in 2or 3 litre bottles as opposed to 275-330mls in a typical alcopop.

How much can I drink and still be allowed to drive my car?
Easy! We can’t tell you! The legal limit on a breathalyser is 35mcg, in a blood test it is 80mg%. These tests only tell you the concentration levels in the body, NOT how much you have had to drink! The concentration level may vary from person to person depending on how much fluid their body contains (women usually have less fluid than men so can generally expect a higher concentration from the equivalent amount of alcohol consumed). Therefore the only safe and sensible option is not to drink anything at all before driving.

When else should I avoid alcohol?
If you are going to be using any machinery, before physical activity (especially swimming), if on any of a number of medications (consult your doctor or the patient information leaflet that comes with medicines), when at work, or if you know you suffer from any medical condition which is known to be linked with drinking. (Or something like this!)

Does alcohol warm me up?
No! It draws blood towards the surface of the skin which gives a feeling of warmth – BUT it is actually lowering your core body temperature and leaving you at greater risk from infections, shock and hypothermia!

But at least it helps me sleep?
Wrong again! It knocks you out, but disrupts your natural sleep patterns, leaving you tired and irritable the next day. It is a bit like using a psychological stick to beat yourself to unconsciousness – no wonder you wake up feeling grumpy!

So if I have overdone it how do I sober up?
No quick fixes here either we’re afraid. Once the alcohol enters your bloodstream virtually all of it has to pass through your liver, where it is processed. This is done at the rate of one unit per hour. You cannot speed this up! No matter how much black coffee, fresh air or exercise you take, it will not have any effect on the amount of alcohol in your body. A cold bath or shower could even kill you through shock! Hair of the dog? No. You can’t sober up by absorbing more of the same! Being sick? This will remove any alcohol still in your stomach and stop you from becoming more intoxicated – providing you don’t carry on drinking afterwards. And the carrots? The ones that always seem to be there even if you haven’t touched them for weeks? Well, these are actually strips of your stomach wall, torn away by the force of you vomiting!