Alcohol Facts

Fact

Alcohol will enter the breast milk of women who are breastfeeding. The alcohol concentration in breast milk is about 10% higher than the BAC in the mother.

Short-term Side Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol affects inviduals differently, including how much a person can drink safely and the short-term effects of drinking. For some people, a high blood alcohol level, i.e. the percentage of alcohol circulating in the blood stream, will be reached after drinking only a couple of standard alcoholic drinks.

The body’s reaction to alcohol is affected by a person’s age, weight, sex, body chemistry, fitness, use of medicines and other drugs, and whether they have food in their stomach, as well as other factors.

Data from the AIHW 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey Report show:

Some of the short-term side effects of using alcohol include:

Reduced concentration
Lack of co-ordination and slower reflexes
Loss of inhibitions and more confidence
Flushed appearance
Blurred vision and slurred speech
Intense moods, e.g. aggression, elation, depression
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Injuries associated with falls, accidents, violence and intentional self harm
Motor vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian accidents
Blackouts
Drownings
Fires
Alcohol poisoning, coma and death

About one-third (34.6%) of people aged 14 years or older put themselves at risk or high risk of alcohol-related harm in the short-term on at least one drinking occasion during the previous 12 months prior to the survey
Males aged 20-29 years (17.2%) were the most likely group to consume alcohol at risky or high risk levels for short-term harm at least weekly
More than a quarter (26.3%) of 14-19 year olds put themselves at risk of alcohol-related harm in the short-term at least once a month during the 12 months prior to the survey. It was higher among females of this age (28.3%) than males (24.5%)