Levels of Use 
According to the 2004 National Household Survey (NHS):
- 73.6% of 14-19 year olds reported that they had tried alcohol
- 24.4% of 14-19 year olds reported weekly use
- More than one in 10 persons aged 14-19 years put themselves at risk of alcohol-related harm on at least a weekly basis in the last 12 months.
Pharmacology
- Alcohol is a depressant drug; that is, it suppresses some aspects of central nervous system functioning (ie activity of the brain, spinal cord, and major nerves).
Types
- Wine, beer, spirits and home-brew
- Some medicinal tonics and syrups (eg cough syrups)
- Some toiletries and industrial products (for example, aftershave, rubbing liniment).
Immediate effects
Small amount:
- Relaxed
- Drowsy
- Uninhibited - more likely to do things they normally would not
Larger amounts:
- Loss of physical coordination
- Unclear vision
- Slur words
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Coma and death
Longer term effects
- Loss of appetite
- Vitamin deficiency
- Skin problems
- Depression
- Loss of sexual drive
- Liver damage
- Brain damage / Loss of memory
- Damage to nerves and muscles in the arms and legs
- Heart and blood disorders
Special considerations
- Mental Health concerns - alcohol may increase feelings of sadness and isolation in young people who are already experiencing depression.
- Pregnancy - regular drinking of any amount of alcohol during pregnancy (especially during the first three months) can damage the health of the mother and the foetus. Alcohol can also be passed to the infant through breast milk.
- Using alcohol with other substances - taking alcohol with substances that depress the body's systems, such as hypnosedatives, opioids or cannabis, can increase loss of judgement and physical coordination and even cause a person to stop breathing.
Signs of withdrawal
If an alcohol dependent person stops drinking suddenly, they can experience:
- anxiety
- shaking
- vomiting
- sweating
- convulsions
- hallucinations ('delirium tremors')
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Working with Young People with Alcohol or Other Drug Issues: A self-paced learning package Published: 2006 Funded by NSW Drug & Alcohol Workforce Development Council. Written & compiled by Kristy Delaney, YAPA, and Matt Stubbs & John Howard, Ted Noffs Institute. Additional material by Nick Manning, YAPA, & by Shopfront Youth Legal Centre. Opinions are the author's.
Be careful! YAPA and the authors took reasonable care to ensure that this information was correct at the time of publishing. However health information, and government regulations, laws and standards are complex and changing. The authors may not have health, safety, or legal qualifications, and information provided is general - it is not specific health, legal or professional advice. Do not rely on it - check with other publications and authorities and if necessary get qualified, medical, legal or professional advice for your situation.
