Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most popular drugs used in Canada. Although many people use it as a "pick-me-up," it is a depressant and slows down the activity of the central nervous system. Alcohol is illegal in Ontario for those under 19 years of age as is distributing or selling alcohol to minors.

Alcohol Poisoning

What is Alcohol Poisoning? beer.jpg
When you consume too much alcohol too fast, it acts as a poison. Blood alcohol level rises quickly and alcohol poisoning can result, leading to BRAIN DAMAGE or DEATH.

Signs of alcohol poisoning:

  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Trouble breathing
  • Unconsciousness
  • Cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
  • Slow breathing
  • Vomiting while "sleeping" or passed out and not waking up after vomiting
  • Loss of bladder control

What To Do
When you detect signs of alcohol poisoning, you have no time to waste. This is a medical emergency. Call an ambulance, roll the person onto the recovery position to prevent them from choking, and do not leave the person alone. Stay with them and monitor their breathing until medical help arrives. If someone passes out from drinking, get help. Call 911 or emergency services immediately. Don't leave someone to "sleep it off" or "walk it off." A person with alcohol poisoning could die in under an hour.
Don't wait it out - get help. It could save a life.

Long and Short Term RIsks of Consuming Alcohol

  • Liver disease
  • Stroke and heart disease
  • Alcohol poisoning
  • Certain cancers
  • Loss of friends and family
  • Legal problems

Stay Safe
Drink no more than two standard serving-sized alcoholic beverages on any occasion.

Do not take alcohol:

  • With any medications, other drugs (herbal, over-the-counter), or illegal drugs
  • If you are pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or breastfeeding
  • If you know you have a drinking problem
  • If you are under 19 years of age

Impaired Driving
Drinking and driving is a deadly combination. One drink can reduce your ability to:

  • Concentrate on the driving task alcohol.jpg
  • Anticipate potentially dangerous situations while you are driving
  • React to potentially dangerous situations appropriately

The more alcohol in your blood, the more trouble you have judging distances and reacting correctly to avoid a hazard. Your vision may also become blurred.

Drugs and Driving
Any drug that changes your mood, or the way you see and feel, will affect the way you drive. The problem is not only associated with illegal drugs. There are prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drugs that can also impair your driving ability.

Consequences
In Ontario, police have power to:

  • Stop drivers at random to determine whether to test for alcohol
  • Suspend your driver's licence at roadside for recording 0.05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or over on a breath test.

What is BAC?
BAC (blood alcohol concentration) is the amount of alcohol in a person's body, measured by the amount of alcohol in blood. "0.05" means there are 50 milligrams of alcohol in every 100 millilitres of blood. BAC is used to define intoxication and provides a scientifically valid measure of the level of impairment.

When hosting a party:

  • It is illegal to serve persons under 19 years of age
  • It is illegal to serve persons to intoxication
  • It is illegal to serve an intoxicated person
  • It is illegal to drink alcohol in public

IF YOU PROVIDE ALCOHOL TO SOMEONE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THE INTOXICATED PERSON UNTIL THEY SOBER UP.

Liability
If you host (plan, organize, sponsor, etc.) an event on indoor or outdoor property that you have responsibility for, and someone is injured on the property, according to the Occupiers Liability Act of Ontario, you can be held civilly liable for the injured person(s). 

Read more about party liabilities

Editable...