What alcohol does
Alcohol changes how the brain works. That affects judgement, coordination, memory, mood and behaviour long before the effects on the rest of the body become obvious.
Your brain and judgement Alcohol slows the brain and changes the way you assess risk and make decisions.
As alcohol levels rise, judgement becomes less reliable. You may feel more confident at the same time as your ability to judge danger is getting worse.
Taking risks you would normally avoid.
Misjudging speed, distance or danger.
Saying or doing things you would not normally do.
Finding it harder to think through consequences.
Coordination and reaction time Balance, movement and reaction time become less reliable.
Alcohol affects the parts of the brain involved in balance, movement and reaction time. You may feel capable while your physical responses are already slower.
That is why drinking and driving, cycling, swimming, operating machinery or doing anything where a quick reaction matters can become dangerous.
Memory and blackouts A person can be awake and talking but still fail to form memories.
A blackout is not the same as passing out. During an alcohol blackout, someone may still be walking, talking and interacting with people but later have no memory of part or all of what happened.
A blackout means the brain has stopped forming memories properly because of the amount of alcohol in the body. It can happen even when someone is still awake, talking and moving around.
Repeated blackouts are a serious warning sign. They mean alcohol is affecting the brain at a level that can also increase the risk of injury, accidents, unsafe sex, violence, alcohol poisoning and other harm.
If blackouts are happening to you, speak to your GP or a local alcohol service about your drinking. You can also call Drinkline Scotland for confidential advice.
Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call Find alcohol support and local services in Scotland ↗ Read Is my drinking a problem? →If someone cannot be woken, has collapsed, is breathing slowly or irregularly, or you think they may have alcohol poisoning, phone 999.
Emergency — phone 999 CallSleep Alcohol may make you fall asleep faster, but the sleep itself is poorer.
Alcohol can make you drowsy, but it disrupts normal sleep. You may wake during the night, sleep more lightly, snore more heavily or wake feeling tired despite being in bed for hours.
Drinking regularly to get to sleep can also become a habit, and over time you may need more alcohol to get the same effect.
Mood and behaviour Alcohol can change mood while you are drinking and after it wears off.
Alcohol may make someone feel more relaxed, confident or sociable at first. As more is consumed, mood can become less predictable. Irritability, aggression, anxiety, sadness or impulsive behaviour can all become more likely.
The next day, anxiety and low mood can be worse as the effects wear off and sleep has been disrupted.
Your body Alcohol affects far more than the liver.
Alcohol reaches the bloodstream quickly and is carried throughout the body. Drinking heavily or regularly can affect the liver, heart, blood pressure, digestive system, pancreas, immune system and nervous system, and it increases the risk of several cancers.
Read about the health effects of alcohol →When drinking becomes dangerous Very high levels of alcohol can affect breathing, consciousness and the ability to protect the airway.
If someone cannot be woken, is breathing slowly or irregularly, has a seizure, has collapsed or you think they may have alcohol poisoning, treat it as an emergency.
Emergency — phone 999 CallDo not leave an unconscious person alone to "sleep it off".
If you are worried about your drinking You do not need to wait until alcohol has caused serious damage before asking for help.
If drinking is causing blackouts, arguments, missed work, money problems, health concerns or feels harder to control, it is worth looking at properly.
Is my drinking a problem? → Drinkline Scotland — 0800 7314 314 Call Find alcohol support and local services in Scotland ↗