Alcohol and your health

Find out how alcohol affects your body

The effects of alcohol on a young person’s body is not the same as for an adult. You might think you are young and that alcohol will not affect you, but there are many consequences of drinking too much alcohol when you’re young which you might not know about.

To find out about some of these effects and more, click on the different areas of the body.
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1. Brain development

The part of the brain which is responsible for behaviour, emotions, reasoning and judgement are still developing as a child and into your teenage years. Drinking during this time can have a long-term impact on memory, reactions and concentration. This could affect your school or college work which can have an impact for later life careers.

1. Brain development

The part of the brain which is responsible for behaviour, emotions, reasoning and judgement are still developing as a child and into your teenage years. Drinking during this time can have a long-term impact on memory, reactions and concentration. This could affect your school or college work which can have an impact for later life careers.

2. Heart

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems like:

  • Stretching and drooping of the heart muscle
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
Developing conditions like this at a young age can also lead to an increase risk of other health conditions.

2. Heart

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems like:

  • Stretching and drooping of the heart muscle
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
Developing conditions like this at a young age can also lead to an increase risk of other health conditions.

3. Cancer

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:

  • Mouth
  • Oesophagus
  • Throat
  • Liver

3. Cancer

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:

  • Mouth
  • Oesophagus
  • Throat
  • Liver
  • Breast

4. Liver damage

You might think that only people who have been drinking over many years get liver damage/disease, but regularly drinking too much can increase your chances of damaging your liver. Sometimes the damage caused by alcohol is not very visable so a problems might only be discovered when it’s a real issue and even too late to fix. Some of the conditions might include:

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis

4. Liver damage

You might think that only people who have been drinking over many years get liver damage/disease, but regularly drinking too much can increase your chances of damaging your liver. Sometimes the damage caused by alcohol is not very visable so a problems might only be discovered when it’s a real issue and even too late to fix. Some of the conditions might include:

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis

5. Pancreas

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis; a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion of food and drink.

5. Pancreas

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis; a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion of food and drink.

6. Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol can be poisonous to anyone that drinks too much in a short space of time. The health effects of alcohol can be seen when your blood alcohol levels get too high. This can cause your brain to stop controlling your body’s vital functions you could stop breathing, fall into a coma or choke on your vomit.

6. Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol can be poisonous to anyone that drinks too much in a short space of time. The health effects of alcohol can be seen when your blood alcohol levels get too high. This can cause your brain to stop controlling your body’s vital functions you could stop breathing, fall into a coma or choke on your vomit.

7. Appearance

Alcohol has almost as many calories as eating fatty foods, so drinking can cause your weight to increase. It is also dehydrates the body and can make skin look pale and grey. Drinking affects normal sleep patterns too, leading to restless nights and tiredness, not so good when you need to get up in the morning.

7. Appearance

Alcohol has almost as many calories as eating fatty foods, so drinking can cause your weight to increase. It is also dehydrates the body and can make skin look pale and grey. Drinking affects normal sleep patterns too, leading to restless nights and tiredness, not so good when you need to get up in the morning.

8. Immune System

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. People who drink lots are more likely to get a diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

8. Immune System

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. People who drink lots are more likely to get a diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

9. Unprotected sex

Alcohol affects your rational decision-making skills. When you drink you might feel more confident and less shy. This can lead to making decisions which are out of character such as having unprotected sex.

9. Unprotected sex

Alcohol affects your rational decision-making skills. When you drink you might feel more confident and less shy. This can lead to making decisions which are out of character such as having unprotected sex.

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1. Brain development

The part of the brain which is responsible for behaviour, emotions, reasoning and judgement are still developing as a child and into your teenage years. Drinking during this time can have a long-term impact on memory, reactions and concentration. This could affect your school or college work which can have an impact for later life careers.

2. Heart

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems like:

  • Stretching and drooping of the heart muscle
  • Irregular heart beat
  • Stroke
  • High blood pressure
Developing conditions like this at a young age can also lead to an increase risk of other health conditions.

3. Cancer

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the:

  • Mouth
  • Oesophagus
  • Throat
  • Liver

4. Liver damage

You might think that only people who have been drinking over many years get liver damage/disease, but regularly drinking too much can increase your chances of damaging your liver. Sometimes the damage caused by alcohol is not very visable so a problems might only be discovered when it’s a real issue and even too late to fix. Some of the conditions might include:

  • Fatty liver
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Fibrosis
  • Cirrhosis

5. Pancreas

Alcohol causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances that can eventually lead to pancreatitis; a dangerous inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels in the pancreas that prevents proper digestion of food and drink.

6. Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol can be poisonous to anyone that drinks too much in a short space of time. The health effects of alcohol can be seen when your blood alcohol levels get too high. This can cause your brain to stop controlling your body’s vital functions you could stop breathing, fall into a coma or choke on your vomit.

7. Appearance

Alcohol has almost as many calories as eating fatty foods, so drinking can cause your weight to increase. It is also dehydrates the body and can make skin look pale and grey. Drinking affects normal sleep patterns too, leading to restless nights and tiredness, not so good when you need to get up in the morning.

8. Immune System

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system, making your body a much easier target for disease. People who drink lots are more likely to get a diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis. Drinking a lot on a single occasion slows your body’s ability to ward off infections – even up to 24 hours after getting drunk.

9. Unprotected sex

Alcohol affects your rational decision-making skills. When you drink you might feel more confident and less shy. This can lead to making decisions which are out of character such as having unprotected sex.