Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant that reduces the information speed between the brain and the body. Alcoholism is defined as an excessive drinking that damages a person’s physical and mental state, eventually disrupting the social life. Drinking too much can cause serious health problems. However it is beneficial for stress relief and some stomach disorders. Even though it is legal for those aged 18 and over to consume alcohol, one should know when to draw a line between moderate and problem drinking. So, it is important to be aware of the warning signs and take measures to stay away from that dangerous territory.

Permissible Limits of Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is not acceptable in some societies. As alcohol impairs judgement, it is not legal to drive and work under its control. The same rule applies to the engineers and those who work in aircraft systems.

     A unit is approximately equivalent to half a pint of moderate strength beer or a standard glass of wine. Alcohol limits per week for men and women are 30 units and 20 units respectively.

     According to CAA suggestions, an engineer should not report for work for at least 8 hours after consumption. The following table shows the limits of alcohol with respect to breathing, blood and urine samples. Any reading above this limit is considered as excessive and the person is not allowed to work.

Effects of Alcohol

The effects of alcohol differs from each person depending on their general health state, BMI, habitual extent, amount of consumption and the alcohol strength. However the following are some of the common effects of alcohol.

• Alcohol consumption affects the brain, heart, kidneys, pancreas and other functional body organs
• Trouble focusing and confusion
• Slow response to stimuli
• Sudden mood changes
• Clumsiness
• Memory loss
• Vision problems
• Over exaggeration
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol to face challenges
• Facing legal problems on account of drinking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Lack of co-ordination
• Coma and death in extreme consumption cases

Help and Support

Giving up alcohol is a challenging task because the body would find it difficult to get used to function without it. Furthermore, the withdrawal effects such as sweating, tremors, anxiety, irritability, seizures and hallucinations are not easy to handle. Seek help from the local health centre and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) groups.