IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
The social impact of alcohol
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
Drugs alter normal body functions.
The recreational drug alcohol:
 slows reaction times
 makes people forget things and feel confused
 causes vomiting, unconsciousness, and even death.
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
The word alcohol is commonly
used for the chemical ethanol.
Alcoholic drinks contain
ethanol.
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
Drinking ethanol has social
impacts.
 In the UK, heavy drinking is
blamed for up to 33 000
deaths a year.
 A Swedish study found that
up to 44% of deaths not
caused by illness might be
linked to ethanol.
 These include deaths from
falls, traffic accidents, suicide,
and murder.
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
Drinking ethanol also has
economic impacts.
It makes huge profits for
drinks companies. £19.5
billion in 2013 put into the
UK economy.
Its taxes bring income to
the Government £10 billion
in 2013.
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
But there are economic
disadvantages, too.
Ethanol costs the National
Health Service an
estimated £2.7 billion each
year.
The cost of policing
alcohol-related crimes is
also high £13 billion (2013).
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
Apart from dealing with the
effects of alcohol related
crime and accidents, the
NHS has to deal with the
2.6 million people that are
considered heavy drinkers.
Health effects such as fatty
liver of liver cirrhosis, heart
disease and kidney disease
are common among them.
© Oxford University Press 2011
IC3.28.3 The social impact of alcohol
Many recreational drugs are illegal because they are
harmful. Do you think alcohol should be made
illegal, too?
Discuss with a partner or your group. Evaluate the
social and economic advantages and disadvantages of
the uses of alcohols.
© Oxford University Press 2011