1. The number of drinks consumed per hour affects the blood alcohol concentration of a person. If too many drinks are consumed in a short amount of time, the concentration can easily rise to a dangerous level. The weight of the person consuming alcohol also affects their BAC. If someone weighs more, they have more water in their body meaning the alcohol is not as effective. The strength of the alcohol also affects the BAC of a person. If there is a high alcohol percentage in the drink, the person’s BAC will rise.
a. Having a sober friend or friends to keep an eye on you or your friends, making sure the drinking environment is familiar and safe, and ensuring that an excessive amount of alcohol is not consumed are all ways to be safe and responsible while drinking.
b. In the future, I will be sure to not drink to be excessively drunk, make sure I surround myself with people who are responsible and are also not drinking too much, and be in a place that I am familiar with and where I am completely comfortable with my surroundings.
2. Alcohol both physically and mentally affects the body. Physical effects of consuming alcohol include a disturbed night’s sleep, which can take a toll over a long time if alcohol is often abused. Another physical (and more extreme) effect of drinking alcohol is alcohol poisoning, which can result in stomach pumping and even death. Mental affects include a decrease in judgment, and as alcohol is a depressant, it also slows down the central nervous system (this results in slurred speech, blurred vision, slower reaction time, and more).
a. While most effects of alcohol are negative, such as the physical toll on the body (which can sometimes threaten lives), alcohol can also have a positive effect when not abused. It is dangerous to consume too much alcohol, but studies have shown that, for example, one glass of red wine a day is good for the heart. A small amount of alcohol can also be relaxing in social situations, but there is a fine line between consuming an okay amount and an excessive
