Sensible drinking
2007-06-28
SENSIBLE drinking means drinking alcohol in a responsible way so that you do not hurt yourself or others. This is not an option if you are addicted to alcohol and you should stay away from it.
Always eat before you drink. Drink slowly and have water or a cool drink after each unit of alcohol.
Men can have no more than two units of alcohol a day and because women generally weigh less than men, they should not have more than one unit a day.
Count how many units you are drinking. A unit is one tot of whisky, brandy or other spirits, a small glass of wine or a small can of beer or alcohol-based cold drinks.
Women should stop drinking alcohol if they fall pregnant. Alcohol harms unborn babies who will need special care all their lives because they will have heart defects, be mentally handicapped and have abnormal facial features.
These are symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). If pregnant women cannot stop drinking, they should go for help at their nearest clinic.
Avoid places where you know people will drink too much. You don’t have to abuse alcohol just because people around you do.
Learn to say NO, regardless of what choices anyone around you is making.
Leave the room if your friends do not support you, change your attitude towards alcohol and try to have at least two alcohol-free days a week.
Harmful drinking can lead you to be knocked down when you are walking unsteadily and you are an easy target for attackers.
Women under the influence get raped more easily when they are drunk, while men make unwise decisions such as having sex without a condom. This way you can get a sexually transmitted disease such as HIV/Aids.
Driving under the influence is unlawful and you endanger the lives of others and yourself when you cause car accidents.
You can become so aggressive that you can cause injury or death to your wife, children, loved ones or others.
Harmful drinking also means you’ll have less money for food, clothing or schooling and it damages your health.
If alcohol is a problem in your life, visit your clinic or phone SANCA at 021-872-5050/9671 or Al-Anon at 021-418-0021.
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