Alcohol

For most people, having a few drinks is a great way of socialising with your mates, but for some it can become a way of life. You don't have to be an alcoholic to find out you have a drinking problem. Drinking too much or even a little at the wrong time may cause all manner of alcohol related problems.

Excessive drinking over a period of time not only leads to physical addiction, but also increases the risk of heart attacks, stroke, brain damage, liver and muscle disease and a whole host of other health disorders. It is also likely to cause all manner of social problems.

The maximum 'safe' weekly intake suggested is:

21 units for men
14 units for women
(as women's livers are smaller)

One unit of alcohol is roughly equivalent to one of the following drinks:

½ pint of beer or cider
1 glass of wine
1 single shot of spirits (25ml serving)

There is also a 'safe' limit for driving, however it is safe to say that any alcohol consumed will dull your reactions and make you more likely cause or to not avoid an accident or fatality. The only truly safe limit when driving is NO alcohol at all.

The last thing we want to do is preach to you as we've all had too much to drink at one time or another, but we are here to watch out for your health, safety and wellbeing.

We want you to enjoy your time at university, but we would like it if you came out at the end of it all with a decent degree and your health still intact!

Here at Winchester Student Union we support the 'if you do drink, don't do drunk' campaign, which some of you may have heard of. It aims to slow down the large amount of binge drinking in 18-24 year olds.

Over a million young people regularly drink just to get drunk and many nights end up 'ruined' due to drunkenness. Ending up in A&E or in a police cell for the night is not much fun so that's why we've joined them in spreading their message. If you are interested in finding out more, visit their website at: www.dontdodrunk.com

Do Drink Don't Do Drunk

These words may be something that you'd look at and think why not - I have fun, or "it's a laugh" - however, sometimes the consequences are not: trips to A+E and the morning after are never that pretty! I know - I've been there as much as everyone else. Heard the story about the boozed-up bloke who missed his stop on the tube and ended up in Barnet? Or the one about the woman who drank too much wine and woke up in Walthamstow?

We've all heard these stories from time to time. We all laugh at how stupid those people were, but imagine how you would feel if you woke up miles away from home faced with a large taxi bill or a long walk. Well, to help get the message across The Portman Group has produced a range of posters and put them up at Tube Stations all over London. www.dontdodrunk.com is where you can get more info on this important issue.

It may look like the latest digital radio station but it's actually the catchphrase for responsible drinking! Current government guidelines state that women should drink no more than 2-3 units of alcohol per day and men no more than 3-4. It's the responsible drinking message in a nutshell. So if you want to enjoy yourself and have a drink but also want to keep healthy, then remember the formula - 2f3m4.

I don't want to lay down the new drinking law or preach to you, but this is a very important issue that I want everyone to think about seriously if nothing else. I am not one for a totally sober night, but there is a big difference between the drinking of alcohol and being drunk. Think of the damage that can be done and the money that you waste.

Have fun but be careful: just take a few minutes to think it over...

Joliver - Winchester Student Union
Welfare Officer and fellow drinker