Learn More About Alcohol

Ka whai i te whānuitanga o ngā kōrero mō te Waipiro.

Alcohol, often called drink, booze, or grog, comes from fermented sugars found in plants. Alcohol is found in beer, RTDs, wines and spirits. The sale of alcohol is controlled to try and reduce the harm it can cause. Alcohol abuse is common.

How it feels

When you drink alcohol it can make you feel relaxed, more confident and happy to talk to people. It can also make it harder for you to think clearly, become clumsy and slower to complete tasks.

Drinking a lot can make you very drunk. You may feel like throwing up and you can end up wetting yourself. Some people get very angry and can’t stop themselves from lashing out and hurting themselves, their family and friends, or complete strangers.

After you’ve been drunk, you’ll normally get a hangover. This is when your head hurts, your stomach hurts, you feel thirsty and tired. Sometimes you can also feel very sad and unhappy.

Directory of Support Services for Whānau Drug Support

Our Directory of nationwide and local organisations is here to help guide you to find the support you need, whether it be counselling, support groups, helplines, recovery and support programmes or rehab facilities.

Kua whakakotahi mai nga ratonga Awhina, kia Kaha Tautoko ai to tatou whānau kua raru ai I ēnei tūmomo Warawara Waipiro me nga Tarutaru.

Things to look out for

If you are younger than 25 years old then your brain is still developing. When you drink, you are more likely to do things you wouldn’t normally do. That’s why it’s good to have someone stay sober to look out for you.

All bottle labels tell you the number of standard drinks. This is a good way to see how much you are drinking. Drinking and driving is extra risky, and if you are younger than 20, you are not allowed to drink anything before driving.

Drinking a lot for a long time will hurt your mind and your body. You may forget things and vital organs, like your heart, liver and stomach get damaged. You can also get cancer. These things will cause long-term damage, and can kill you.

Calling for help

When you get really drunk, you can die.

If you find it hard to wake someone, they are throwing up and shaking, take slow or irregular breaths, fell really cold, or they look bluish or very pale, call for immediate help. For help phone the DHB 24 hour local helpline on 0800 800 508. In an emergency call 111 and ask for an ambulance. You may save their life.