Alcohol & Alcohol Abuse
Why do people drink?
Some reasons why…
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To be accepted by peers and fit in
Increases popularity
To escape peer pressure
Make people feel independent
Feel more confident
Helps deal with stress
For the excitement
Types of Drinkers
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Occasional Drinker
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Social Drinker
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A person who drinks regularly in social settings but
seldom consumes enough to become intoxicated
Binge Drinker
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A person who drinks an alcoholic beverage every now
and then but seldom consumes enough to become
intoxicated
Having five drinks for men and four for women on at
least one occasion in the past two weeks
Problem Drinker
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A person who uses alcohol in a manner that causes
physical, psychological, or social harm to the drinker
and/or others
Alcoholism
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An alcoholic is someone who suffers from
alcoholism and who has lost control over his or
her drinking
Alcohol Dependence
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When a person is so physically attached to alcohol
that he or she cannot live comfortably without it
Alcohol Addiction
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Extensive dependence on alcohol; this dependence
becomes so acute that getting and using alcohol
becomes the focus of everyday life
Short term affects of alcohol 
Blackouts
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A temporary form of amnesia
The person appears to be conscious of what
s/he is doing but the next day cannot remember
much or any of what happened
Hangovers
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Characterized by nausea, upset stomach,
anxiety, and a headache
There are no quick cures
Only after the alcohol is completely out of your
body will you lose a hangover
How alcohol affects the brain 
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Cerebrum – reasoning & inhibitions – thought
process becomes disorganized, memory and
concentration become dulled
Cerebellum – controls movement – impairs
motor skills
Thalamus – controls sense – becomes more
difficult to hear and see
Medulla – controls breathing – impairs
respiration and in extreme cases can result in
death
How it affects the liver 
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Alcohol is
processed in the
liver
Cirrhosis of the
liver
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Scar tissue
replaces normal
liver tissue and
interfere with the
livers ability to
function
How it can affect others –
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
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A birth defect caused
by alcohol consumption
during pregnancy that
is characterized by
mental retardation,
poor motor
coordination,
hyperactivity in
childhood, and facial
deformities
Terms and Definitions
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Ethanol
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Fermentation
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Type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages
The chemical action of yeast and sugars
from fruit, vegetable, or grains
Natural process of making ethanol
Distillation
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After fermentation the juice is boiled and the
evaporated alcohol is collected for a purer
alcohol content
Fermented VS. Distilled Alcohol
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American beers
Imported beers
Wines
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Grain alcohol
Whiskey
Gin
Vodka
Brandy
What does proof mean?
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The standard strength of alcohol
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200 proof = 100% alcohol = grain
100 proof = 50% alcohol = whiskey, gin, vodka
50 proof = 25% alcohol = brandy
25 proof = 12.5% alcohol = wines
12.5 proof = 6% alcohol = imported beer
6 proof = 3% alcohol = American beer
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Blood Alcohol Concentration
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The amount of alcohol in a person’s
blood expressed as a percentage
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Alcohol begins to affect the brain at
BAC levels of 0.02
Back to the liver 
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The liver processes alcohol
It processes about 1 ounce of 80 proof
alcohol per hour
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This means 
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One shot of liquor/hour
One glass of wine/hour
One bottle of beer/hour
Alcohol and Other Drugs
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Synergistic Effect –
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When 2 or more substances present at
the same time result in a total effect
much greater than the sum of the effects
of each substance
In other words –
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2+2=7
Don’t mix drugs and alcohol
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Antihistamines, sedatives, antidepressants, or antianxiety drugs plus alcohol can depress the CNS to
the point of coma, respiratory arrest, or death.
When alcoholic beverages are mixed with energy
drinks, a popular practice among youth, the
caffeine in these drinks can mask the depressant
effects of alcohol. Caffeine has no effect on the
metabolism of alcohol by the liver and does not
reduce the risk of alcohol-attributable harms.
Alcohol and the law 
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PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS
Section 5505 of the Pennsylvania Crimes
Code (Title 18)
A person is guilty of a summary offense if he
appears in any public place manifestly under the
influence of alcohol... to the degree that he may
endanger himself or other persons or property,
or annoy persons in his vicinity.
Penalty
1st Offense
Fine
0-$300
Jail
0-90 days
Alcohol and the law 
PURCHASE, CONSUMPTION, POSSESSION OR
TRANSPORTATION OF LIQUOR OR MALT OR
BREWED BEVERAGES BY A MINOR
Section 6308 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code
(Title 18)
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A person commits a summary offense if he/she, being less
than 21 years of age, attempts to purchase, purchases,
consumes, possesses or knowingly and intentionally
transports any liquor or malt or brewed beverages.
Penalty
1st Offense
2nd Offense
Subsequent
Offenses
Fine
0-$300
0-$500
0-$500
Jail
0-90 days
0-90 days
0-90 days
License
Suspension
90 days
1 year
2 years
Alcohol and the law 
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CARRYING A FALSE IDENTIFICATION CARD
Section 6310.3 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code
(Title 18)
A person commits a summary offense for a first violation
and a misdemeanor of the third degree for subsequent
violations if he/she, being under 21, possesses an
identification card falsely identifying that person by
name, age, date of birth or photograph as being 21
years or age or older or obtains or attempts to obtain
liquor or malt or brewed beverages by using the
identification card of another or by using an
identification card that has not been lawfully issued to or
in the name of that person who possesses the card.
Penalty
1st Offense
2nd Offense
Subsequent
Offenses
Fine
Jail
0-$300
0-90 days
0-$500
0-1 year
0-$500
0-1 year
License
Suspension
90 days
1 year
2 years
Alcohol and the law 
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SELLING OR FURNISHING LIQUOR OR MALT OR
BREWED BEVERAGES TO MINORS
Section 6310.1 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title
18)
A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if
he/she intentionally and knowingly sells or... furnishes or
purchases with the intent to sell or furnish any liquor or malt
or brewed beverages to persons less than 21 years of age.
This section does not apply to any religious service or
ceremony which may be conducted in a private home or a
place of worship where the amount of wine served does not
exceed the amount reasonable, customarily and traditionally
required as an integral part of the service or ceremony.
Penalty
1st Offense
Fine
Jail
$1000-$2500
0-1 year
2nd Offense
and
Subsequent
Offenses
$2500
0-1 year