IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 The social impact of alcohol

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 Drugs alter normal body functions. The recreational drug alcohol:  slows reaction times  makes people forget things and feel confused  causes vomiting, unconsciousness, and even death.

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 The word alcohol is commonly used for the chemical ethanol. Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol.

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 Drinking ethanol has social impacts.  In the UK, heavy drinking is blamed for up to deaths a year.  A Swedish study found that up to 44% of deaths not caused by illness might be linked to ethanol.  These include deaths from falls, traffic accidents, suicide, and murder.

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 Drinking ethanol also has economic impacts.  It makes huge profits for drinks companies. £19.5 billion in 2013 put into the UK economy.  Its taxes bring income to the Government £10 billion in 2013.

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 But there are economic disadvantages, too.  Ethanol costs the National Health Service an estimated £2.7 billion each year.  The cost of policing alcohol-related crimes is also high £13 billion (2013).

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 Apart from dealing with the effects of alcohol related crime and accidents, the NHS has to deal with the 2.6 million people that are considered heavy drinkers. Health effects such as fatty liver of liver cirrhosis, heart disease and kidney disease are common among them.

IC The social impact of alcohol © Oxford University Press 2011 Many recreational drugs are illegal because they are harmful. Do you think alcohol should be made illegal, too? Discuss with a partner or your group. Evaluate the social and economic advantages and disadvantages of the uses of alcohols.