Title B1.

7 Alcohol Date

LO: Make an infographic on the effects of alcohol

Do now task: Mini Whiteboard

Success Criteria (Blooms)

Describe the effect

alcohol has on
Describe the effect of conception and
alcohol on health and pregnancy.
State what kind of behaviour.
drug ethanol is

MSCS/UAE/Career Links: Cross Curricula links:

Scientists, doctors, nutritionists, PE healthy diet

personal trainers, chefs, counsellor

What are the consequences of

eating an unhealthy diet?
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 Alcoh
ol!
Many adults drink alcohol but
it can be harmful.
Drinking even small amounts
of alcohol can change your
behaviour. It can make some
people feel relaxed and happy,
but others can feel aggressive
and depressed.
 What is alcohol?
• Alcohol contains the drug ethanol. When you drink
alcohol, ethanol is absorbed into your bloodstream.

• It then travel to your brain, where it affects your nervous

system.

• This chemical is called a depressant because it slows

down your body’s reactions.

• If people drink a lot of alcohol regularly, they may need

Q1 – Name the drug found
to drink greater and greater amounts to cause the same in alcoholic drinks.
Q2 – State what is meant
effect on their body. They may become addicted.
by a depressant?
• People who have an addiction to alcohol are called Q3 – State what is meant
by the word alcoholic.
alcoholics.
No alcohol How a person would be
affected
Generally relaxed and
happy.

Increasing alcohol
Drunk – person loses control of
their muscles, making it difficult
to walk and balance.

intake
Slurred
speech.
Blurred
vision.
Unconsciousnes
s.

Death
Excessive .
 How much alcohol can a person drink safely?
• Different alcoholic drinks contain different amounts of alcohol. For example, spirits
such as vodka and whisky contain more alcohol than beer.

• To lower the risk of damage to your body from drinking alcohol, the government
recommends that adult women drink a maximum of two units of alcohol per day
(14 units per week) and adult men a maximum of three units per day (21 units per
week). One unit of alcohol is 10 ml of pure alcohol.

• However, these are only guidelines because height, weight, and gender affect the
way people react to alcohol.
Q1 – State the recommended
maximum number of alcohol units per
week for adult women and for adult
men.
Q2 – Suggest why the recommended
 Dangers of alcohol
Drinking large amounts of alcohol over a long time can cause stomach ulcers, heart
disease and brain and liver damage.

• Your liver breaks down harmful chemicals (including

ethanol) into harmless waste products, which are then
excreted from your body.

• As a result of having to break down large amounts of

ethanol the livers of heavy drinkers become scarred.

• This means their liver works less efficiently, taking

longer to break down alcohol and other chemicals.

• This condition is called cirrhosis of the liver, and can Q – Describe three conditions that
are more likely to occur if a person
result in death. drinks a lot of alcohol for a long time.
 Should pregnant women drink alcohol?
• The Department of Health recommends that pregnant
women do not drink any alcohol. Drinking alcohol increases
the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and low-
birth-weight babies.
• When a pregnant women drinks alcohol, it diffuses into the
baby’s bloodstream. It can then damage the developing
organs and nervous system. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
affects the way a baby’s brain develops. This results in
children with learning difficulties, facial problems, and poor
Q – Explain why it is
immune systems. important that pregnant
• Alcohol can also reduce fertility in both men and women. women avoid drinking
alcohol. (3 marks).
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
affects the way a baby’s brain
develops.

It can result in children with

learning difficulties, facial
problems, and poor immune
system.
QUICK CHECK QUESTIONS: Alcohol
Q1 Name the drug found in alcoholic drinks.

Q2 State what is meant by a depressant.

Q3 State what is meant by the word alcoholic.

Q4 State the recommended maximum number

of alcohol units per week for adult women and for adult men.

Q5 Describe three conditions that are more likely to occur if a person drinks a
lot of alcohol for a long time.

Q6 Explain why it is important that pregnant women avoid drinking alcohol.

CLASS PRACTICAL: Investigating the effect of
alcohol on reaction times
3-4 CHALLENGE: Draw a graph to
State some effects of represent results from the
drinking alcohol: reaction rate experiment.

5-6 7+

Question Answer Explanation

What
effect does
alcohol
have on
reaction
times?
Is alcohol
good for
pregnant
mothers?

7+
Explain why it is important to
provide information about
drinking to the general public.
 SUMMARY QUESTIONS
1. Copy and complete the sentences below.

Alcoholic drinks contain the drug ____________. This is a __________, because

it affects the ____________ system, slowing down your body’s reactions.
Drinking alcohol can lead to brain and ____________ damage. (4 marks)

2. Explain why it is important that pregnant women avoid alcohol. (3 marks)

 EXIT TICKET QUESTIONS
1. Why might death from alcohol be low in 20-24 year
olds?
2. Why should pregnant women avoid alcohol?