The kind of alcohol we drink is called ethyl alcohol. Most alcohols are highly poisonous to humans, but ethyl alcohol can be tolerated in the human body in small amounts.

When people start drinking they initially feel relaxation and pleasure. As the blood alcohol level rises, it slows the body’s reactions down. This is why alcohol is classified as a sedative-hypnotic drug. People can get into trouble when they drink a lot of alcohol very quickly; this may result in alcohol poisoning.

When alcohol is swallowed it passes more or less unchanged into the bloodstream through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Only minutes after drinking, the circulation system begins distributing the alcohol to every part of the body. From the stomach and the intestine, the alcohol travels to the liver where it is ultimately broken down by enzymes into other products such as water and carbon dioxide. These products are mainly eliminated from the body in the urine. The liver does this job at a slow, constant rate. It takes one to two hours to process one standard drink. So when people drink alcohol faster than the liver breaks it down, alcohol concentration increases in the blood.

As the alcohol travels around the body via the bloodstream, it starts to slow down the operation of various sorts of cells. This causes the familiar symptoms of different stages of intoxication and drunkenness – relaxation, laughter, slurred speech, inability to walk straight, and impaired judgment and coordination.

Because bigger people have more water in their bodies than smaller people, the same amount of alcohol is more diluted in their bodies and they will tend to get drunk more slowly.

The rate of intoxication also depends on other factors like gender. Women are affected more rapidly than men, because of their generally lower body weight, and smaller volume of blood. Also, the enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase which acts to break down alcohol in the stomach is 70-80 percent less effective in women.

Eating food before or during drinking slows the rate alcohol is absorbed into the body.

If at any time you wish to speak to someone anonymously about any concerns or questions you might have, you can telephone the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.

If you see the risks of your drinking as being high, you may feel alarm or concern and search for ways to reduce the risk. However, feelings of fear or anxiety alone do not lead to a change in behaviour. Something else is important - the belief that you CAN change.

You will need to identify at least one thing that is:

• Acceptable and possible to use, and
• Likely to help in effectively reducing the risk

When you find this, you are more likely to reduce the risks around your current drinking - reducing it or stopping it.

If you cannot find a strategy that will work for you, then you are more likely to find excuses or reasons to continue drinking in the way you do now, rather than addressing your concerns.

If at any time you wish to speak to someone anonymously about any concerns or questions you might have, you can telephone the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.

You may have thought about different ways of doing something about your drinking. You may think you need to stop drinking completely in the long run, but don't feel ready to do that without first trying to cut down.

A useful first step when considering whether your drinking is a problem for you or for others is to draw up a list of the good things and the less good things you experience with your drinking.

Write down all the good things you can think of. For example, that drinking alcohol makes you feel better or it means you have a good time with your friends.

Then list all the negatives that are affecting your life – or could soon be affecting your life – because of your drinking. Consider what your family or whanau, friends and work colleagues are saying about your drinking, and the effect your drinking might be having on them. Does your drinking cause you legal, money or health problems? Is it affecting your job?

Look at the balance of the good and the less good. Is your drinking a problem for you or for other people? If your drinking is causing problems in your life, are you ready to do something about it?

If you would like to cut down on your drinking, think about how you will do this. Will you drink less each day or will you drink less on drinking occasions?

It will help if you try to find ways of dealing with the pressures to drink at home and in the pub. You should be able to tell in six to eight weeks if your plan to cut down on your drinking is working for you.

You could request the Cutting Down booklet from the Alcohol Drug Helpline 0800 787 797, read it and keep a daily record of your drinking.

A plan is a useful tool, but it is good to remember that change isn't easy. You may find it difficult to change because of thoughts like these:

• There's no point - I know I won't / can't cut down.
• I could never manage to cut down.
• My drinking's not as bad as all that.
• I don't drink any more than my friends.

It’s normal to feel torn when you decide to reduce drinking. Alcohol may have played an important role in your life. If you get stuck, return to looking at the reasons you wanted to make changes to your drinking behaviour.

If at any time you wish to speak to someone anonymously about any concerns or questions you might have, you can telephone the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.

As well as sticking to the drinking guidelines there are two main ways you can make your drinking safer.

1. Have two or more days each week when you don’t drink any alcohol at all. This helps your body recover from the effects of the alcohol. Some people choose the same two or three days each week for their alcohol-free days. Others choose every second day. Choose whatever suits you best and stick to it.

2. Avoid binge drinking. This is when you drink a lot more than usual on any one occasion and it is one of the most dangerous types of drinking. In addition the following tips may be helpful:

• Quench your thirst with a non-alcoholic drink.
• Eat before you drink, especially if you plan to party.
• Drink alcohol more slowly.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks.