Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant drug, which means it slows down your reactions, heart rate, and affects the way you think, feel, and behave. This can make you more likely to take risks and can leave you feeling vulnerable.

In the UK, alcohol is often a normal part of everyday life. Many people find reasons to drink for various occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, stress relief, work celebrations, or even just because of the weather. It seems like there is always an excuse to include alcohol.

This attitude towards drinking is also seen in young people. Like adults, some young people find reasons to drink, but the risks for them are much greater. Factors like age and experience mean that young people can face more serious consequences from drinking.

For many young people, drinking alcohol feels like a step towards becoming an adult. They are often excited by risky behaviors, and drinking alcohol can seem to fit that desire.

  • Alcohol use is a common challenge for young people in Wirral, often linked to peer influence, curiosity, or coping with stress. Local services like Response (0151 666 4123) provide tailored support for those aged 13-19, addressing alcohol alongside mental health and housing needs. As a professional, your role is vital in identifying risks early and offering non-judgemental guidance.

    • Know the Signs: Look for changes in behaviour, such as withdrawal, irritability, or declining school performance, which may signal problematic alcohol use.

    • Stay Informed: Familiarise yourself with local resources like Response and the Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership (wirralsafeguarding.co.uk) for referral options.

    • Build Trust: Create a safe space where young people feel heard, not judged. Avoid lectures—focus on understanding their perspective.

    • Collaborate: Work with parents, schools, and services like Health Services in Schools (HSIS) to provide consistent support.

    • Act Early: Use professional judgement to assess risk and intervene before alcohol use escalates. Contact Wirral Integrated Front Door (0151 606 2008) if safeguarding concerns arise.

  • Engaging young people about alcohol can be tricky, but a respectful, curious approach works best. Here’s how:

    • Ask, Don’t Tell: Start with open-ended questions like, “What do you think about drinking?” to spark discussion without confrontation.

    • Relate to Their World: Tie conversations to their interests, friends, sports, or future goals, to make it relevant.

    • Use Real Stories: Share anonymised examples of how alcohol has affected others their age, focusing on consequences they care about (e.g., missing out on fun or getting in trouble).

    • Be Patient: They may not open up straight away. Let them know you’re there when they’re ready to talk.

    • Offer Activities: Suggest alternatives like sports, art, or volunteering through local programmes to redirect their energy positively.

    Engagement Tip: Try a casual chat over a shared activity (e.g., playing a game or walking) to lower defences and build rapport.

  • Here’s simple, relatable advice you can pass on to young people in Wirral:

    • Know Your Limits: “Alcohol hits everyone differently. Start slow and stop if you feel off—it’s okay to say no.”

    • Stay Safe: “Stick with mates you trust, and never leave your drink unattended. If something feels wrong, get help.”

    • Think Ahead: “Drinking might feel good now, but it can mess with your plans—like sports, college, or just feeling okay tomorrow.”

    • Talk It Out: “If you’re stressed or pressured, chat with someone you trust instead of reaching for a drink. Wirral’s got support—use it.”

    Encourage them to access support when ever needed.

  • If you are with someone who needs medical help because they have used drugs or alcohol do not wait to see if they get better.

    Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

    Stay calm, keep talking to them and always stay with them.

    If they are unconscious (not responding to you), sleepy or passed out. Lie them on their side, tilt their head back and stop them from rolling backwards. (Recovery position)

    This will keep their airway cope, ensuring they can breathe.

    You might be worried that you will get into trouble for calling an ambulance. You may get told off at home, maybe you’ll even get grounded, but you will have helped save your friends life. In the end your family will be happy and reassured you know what to do in an emergency.

    The Recovery Position

    By placing someone in the recovery position, you are making sure that they are still breathing and can breathe easily, as it’s not unusual for someone who has become unconscious for their tongue to block their airway. You are also making sure that if they vomit, it will not block their airway and choke them.

    1. Open their airway by tilting the head and lifting their chin. Lie them on their side and straighten their legs.

    2. Place the arm nearest to you at right angles to the body. Get hold of the far leg just above the knee and pull it up, keeping the foot flat on the ground. Place their other hand against their cheek.

    3. Keep their hand pressed against their cheek and pull on the upper leg to roll them towards you and onto their side.

    4. Tilt the head back so they can breathe easily.

    5. Make sure that both the hip and the knee of the upper leg are bent at right angles.

    Recovery Position Video

  • Young people often find it challenging to refuse alcohol, especially when it’s offered by friends they trust. As a professional, you can help them prioritise their own instincts over external pressure, reducing the risk of regret or harm.

    Here’s how you can guide them:

    • Encourage Preparation: Advise them to plan their response in advance. Suggest simple phrases like “No thanks, I’m sorted” or “Not tonight” and encourage them to practise mentally. This builds confidence to decline offers in the moment.

    • Promote Positive Relationships: Highlight the value of surrounding themselves with supportive peers. Reinforce that true friends respect boundaries and won’t push back against a firm “no.”

    • Teach Assertiveness: Coach them to say “no” clearly and confidently, keeping it brief to avoid debate. If pressure persists, reassure them they’re not obliged to justify or shift their stance.

    • Explore Social Choices: If refusing feels too hard with their current group, prompt them to reflect on their friendships. Suggest seeking out peers who encourage positive choices rather than pressure them into discomfort.

    • Provide Reliable Information: Urge them to learn about alcohol’s effects before facing decisions. Direct them to trusted resources like their HSIS Youth Worker, the Response Drug and Alcohol Team (0151 666 4123), or talktofrank.com for factual, no-nonsense advice.

Risk Indicators

Understanding alcohol-related risks is essential for professionals supporting young people. This tool uses Low, Increase, and High (RAG) indicators to identify risk behaviours ranging from low to high. Low represents low concern and responsible behaviour. Increased suggests increased caution and emerging risks. High highlights high-risk behaviours that may impact health, safety, or well-being.

The guide helps professionals assess risk levels, initiate informed conversations, and intervene early to reduce harm and promote safer choices for young people.

    • Drinks occasionally with friends, showing moderation and control.

    • Understands the risks of excessive drinking and takes practical steps to minimise harm (e.g., pacing themselves or avoiding binge drinking).

    • Can confidently identify alcohol-related risks, such as health or safety concerns.

    • Maintains a supportive peer group that respects boundaries and encourages positive choices.

    • Knows how to act in an emergency, such as seeking help or supporting a friend in need.

    • Handles peer pressure effectively, saying “no” with confidence and without hesitation.

    • Has a clear safety plan, like arranging transport or staying in a group.

    • Ensures they’re never isolated when drinking, reducing vulnerability.

    • Actively looks out for their own safety and that of their friends during social situations.

    • May associate with peers who drink regularly but chooses not to partake themselves.

    • Is over 18, aligning with legal drinking age considerations.

    • Drinks regularly with friends, indicating a consistent pattern of alcohol consumption.

    • Actively seeks out opportunities to drink, showing intentional engagement with alcohol.

    • Has underlying disabilities that could be exacerbated by alcohol, increasing vulnerability.

    • Takes medication for a medical condition, posing potential health risks when combined with alcohol.

    • Recognises the risks of excessive drinking and occasionally attempts risk reduction (e.g., limiting intake), but lacks consistent confidence to follow through.

    • Understands emergency response procedures but expresses uncertainty or reluctance to act in critical situations.

    • Consumes alcohol in unsafe environments, such as parks, beaches, or unlit areas, heightening physical risks.

    • Struggles to resist peer pressure, lacking the confidence to decline alcohol offers.

    • Has a safety plan when drinking but frequently neglects to implement it, undermining its effectiveness.

    • Reports frequent intoxication, suggesting a loss of control over drinking habits.

    • Describes drinking to the point of sickness, indicating harmful overconsumption.

    • Experiences ongoing mental health challenges, which may influence or be worsened by alcohol use.

    • Displays low self-esteem or confidence, potentially contributing to risky behaviours or reluctance to seek help.

    • Consumes large amounts of alcohol, indicating extreme overindulgence.

    • Persistently misuses alcohol, suggesting a deep-seated dependency or harmful pattern.

    • Engages in anti-social behaviour or criminal activities, potentially linked to alcohol use.

    • Drinks very regularly or daily, with consumption exceeding non-drinking days, reflecting chronic use.

    • Actively seeks opportunities to drink, demonstrating prioritisation of alcohol over other activities.

    • Steals money to fund alcohol purchases, highlighting financial and ethical risks.

    • Drinks alone, increasing isolation and vulnerability to harm.

    • Acknowledges alcohol dangers but takes no preventative measures, showing a lack of self-protection.

    • Participates in criminal activity, which may be exacerbated by alcohol influence.

    • Reports drinking to facilitate sexual encounters, indicating exploitation or risky decision-making.

    • Suffers from poor mental health or has a history of mental health issues, likely worsened by alcohol.

    • Consumes alcohol with unknown individuals, heightening the risk of exploitation or harm.

    • Describes excessive drinking episodes, including vomiting, memory loss, or using alcohol to enable sex, underscoring severe physical and social consequences.

    • Is vulnerable due to factors such as disability, mental health, age, gender, or peer group dynamics.

    • Exhibits behaviour beyond parental control, complicating support efforts.

    • Frequently goes missing, raising serious safeguarding concerns.

    • Faces a high risk of exploitation, potentially linked to alcohol-related vulnerabilities.

    • Places themselves and others at risk through their actions, necessitating urgent action.

Resources

Talking to your children about alcohol