If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: Alcohol is a depressant drug. As a result it affects your body. Initially, you may feel more energetic or cheerful because alcohol depresses your inhibitions. However, that means you can also be less able to control your emotions or reactions. Alcohol is not a drug.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. TRUE: While food and water may ease some of the symptoms, they won't cure a hangover. Neither will drinking more alcohol. The best way to avoid one is to moderate your drinking and have water between alcoholic drinks. Remember that water won't make you any less drunk or protect your liver. Drinking water can lesson the effects of a hangover.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: You might feel less sleepy, but only time will get alcohol out of your body. Depending on your weight, it takes about one hour to process one unit of alcohol. A cold shower, fresh air or hot coffee will sober someone up.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: Drinking on a full stomach before you go out will delay alcohol getting into your system, not prevent it. A meal will only delay the rate of alcohol absorption, but if you go on to drink heavily you will get drunk. However, it's still best to eat a proper meal before a night out, especially foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Lining your stomach with a big meal before drink can help to reduce the risk of getting drunk.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: The more you drink the more damage your body will sustain and the greater the risks become. Tolerance can actually be seen as a warning sign that your body has started to be affected by alcohol. Your body develops a tolerance to alcohol, so you can safely drink more.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. TRUE: A young person can drink alcohol legally. However the Chief Medical Officer recommends that no young person drinks alcohol before the age of 15 (and ideally not until the age of 18). It is against the law for a young person to purchase alcohol under the age of 18 and to drink alcohol in certain places. It is legal for a young person to drink alcohol.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. TRUE: Alcohol affects judgement so, after drinking alcohol, people tend to have fewer inhibitions and this can lead to risky behaviour. People are more likely to take risks after drinking alcohol.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: You’re likely to be offered alcohol as a teenager, but whether you choose to drink it or not is your choice. 26% of 15 year olds have never tried alcohol. 50% haven’t tried it in the last month. All teenagers drink alcohol.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. FALSE: You can't know exactly what you're taking if you take a 'legal high'. Just because they are legal to possess doesn't mean they are safe. Because legal highs are often new and their chemical make-up is constantly changing, the risks are unpredictable and are often still being assessed. Legal highs can carry serious health risks including reduced inhibitions, drowsiness, paranoia, coma, and seizures. If you combine alcohol with any substance that causes a 'high', you increase the health risk. Legal highs are safe.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. It is ok to say ‘no’ to alcohol. It is your choice. If you do choose to drink alcohol make sure you and your friends stay safe.

If you are concerned about a young person’s alcohol or drug use call Compass on for free confidential help and support. 6 things to do if you do decide to drink  Eat before you drink because alcohol will enter the bloodstream more slowly through your stomach if there is food there to absorb it.  Before you start drinking any alcohol at all, be clear how much you want to drink and when you’re going to stop.  Make sure you drink soft drinks in between alcoholic drinks – this will stop you becoming too dehydrated.  Try to have standard-sized drinks so you have a better understanding of how many units of alcohol you are consuming.  If you go out and drink, make sure you know how you’re going to get home and always have some money put aside for a taxi in case you need it.  Always tell someone where you’re going if you’re going out and think you’ll be drinking.