Commercial and Street Names
Beer, spirits, wine, coolers, hard liquor, liqueurs, booze, moonshine, brewski, shooters, brew, barley sandwich, hooch, 40 pounder.
Description of Alcohol
Alcohol is produced naturally by fermentation of fruits, vegetables or grains. One shot of distilled spirits (40% alcohol) has the same amount of alcohol (0.54 ounces) as one 5-ounce glass of wine (13% alcohol) or one 12-ounce serving of beer (5% alcohol). Alcohol is also found in many toiletries (mouth wash, after shave), cooking products (vanilla extract) and household cleaners (Lysol®). Alcohol is a contributing factor in many drug overdoses.
Effects of Alcohol
Small dose effects include euphoria, drowsiness, dizziness, flushing, release of inhibitions and tensions. Larger doses produce slurred speech, staggering,
double vision, stupor. A “hangover” with headache, nausea, shakiness and vomiting may begin 8 to 12 hours after a period of excessive drinking.
Long-term effects of daily drinking can lead to liver damage, brain damage, heart disease, loss of memory, ulcers, disorders of the pancreas and impotence. Chronic drinkers are likely to become physically and psychologically dependent. Withdrawal symptoms are the same as a “hangover” but may also include tremors, agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, elevated blood pressure and
heart rate, seizures, delirium tremens, hallucinations and death. Women who are pregnant should abstain from alcohol.
Source: Health Canada (2000). Straight Facts About Drugs &
Drug Abuse.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Alcohol Impairment
Blood alcohol concentration, or “BAC,” is a way to determine the concentration of alcohol in a person’s bloodstream measured as mass per volume. For
example, a BAC of 0.04% means 0.04 grams of alcohol per 100 grams of blood. In most provinces and states in North America, the BAC at which a person is considered to be legally impaired is 0.08 percent. BAC is the most common way for law enforcement to determine whether a person can safely operate a motor vehicle. BAC can be measured within 30 to 70 minutes after a person has had a drink.
The rate at which alcohol enters the bloodstream may vary depending on (1) the number of drinks (2) how fast you drink, (3) the amount of food in your stomach
(absorption slows if you’ve had something to eat), (4) your weight, and (5) gender. As a general rule of thumb, the average person will eliminate 0.5 ounces (15 ml) of alcohol per hour. Factors such as age and gender, however, affect the body’s ability to metabolize alcohol.
The following chart shows common symptoms people exhibit at various BAC levels, and the effects on the driver when operating a motor vehicle:
Caution: alcohol intoxication can amplify the effects of medication, fatigue and mood states such as depression. Extra care is recommended when operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment.
Binge Alcohol Drinking Defined
On February 5, 2004, the NIAAA National Advisory Council approved the following definition:
A “binge” is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 gram percent or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about 2 hours.
In the above definition, a “drink” refers to half an ounce of alcohol (e.g., one 12oz. beer, one 5oz. glass of wine, or one 1.5oz. shot of distilled spirits). For some individuals (e.g., older people or people taking other drugs or certain medications), the number of drinks needed to reach a binge level BAC is lower than for the “typical adult.” People with risk factors for the development of alcoholism have increased risk with any level of alcohol consumption, even that below a “risky” level. For pregnant women, any drinking presents risk to the fetus.
Source: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Newsletter. Winter 2004, No. 3.
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