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What's the big deal about drink?
It’s legal
It’s on sale at supermarkets!!
It tastes nice (sometimes!)
It’s part of celebrations and parties
It relaxes people and helps people to get along
It isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – but no-one
has to drink it
All of the above is true, there’s no denying it. Alcoholic
drinks have been around for centuries and will, no doubt,
be around for many more.
Our point is that when people choose to drink they should
really know what the substance alcohol does and how to use
it safely and positively. After all, when a doctor prescribes
medicine there are guidelines about how/when to take it safely
and what side effects there might be.
So, what would a prescription leaflet say about drinking alcohol?
Let’s have a go…
Alcohol (beer, cider, alcopops, spirits)
Adults (18+) no more than 2-3 (women) and 3-4 (men) units
a day. 2 days free of alcohol each week (to give the body
a rest) To be taken with food to reduce irritation to the
stomach Not to be taken with any medication or other drugs
Alcohol is a drug, it changes both people's minds and bodies:
People can be aggressive and even violent
It may be harder to walk normally, see properly or talk sense.
Being drunk or even tipsy can make people do strange and stupid
things that they would never normally do. People may even
do dangerous things.
Alcohol can make people vomit (if allergic to it or drinking
far too much)
Keep out of the reach of children
The thing with alcohol is that when it changes someones personality,
there are usually other people who are affected. Adults are
sometimes a mum or a dad and their drinking can sometimes
cause problems within the family & they may be hard to trust,
not be easy to get on with, they may not take care of the
house or the children in the family. Other people can feel
angry, scared and alone in this kind of a situation.
Although parents drinking too much may not appear to be common,
it is not unusual either and if you can relate to this situation
and you want to talk to someone – in confidence and for
free, then read on…
PUKE!
Yes, this is what can happen if people drink too much! But
this is also the name of a team of people who are there to
talk to young people in the Bedfordshire area about their
own or someone else’s drinking. This is where people
can chat, get support and find ways to deal with their own
particular situation.
What’s it stand for?
It stands for Prevention, Understanding, Knowledge and Education
and it is there for you!
To make contact
There are PUKEs in both Luton and Bedford who you can talk
to:
Bedford 01234 344133
Luton 01582 723434
Or why not check out the website
www.alcohol-services.co.uk
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