A humiliating drinking incident such as vomiting or passing out can result in ridicule, social ostracism and other forms of bullying
. Hangovers can lead to time off work, poor work performance and workplace accidents, all of which could put your job at risk.
Alcohol can make the symptoms of mental health conditions worse
. For example, depression and anxiety. Your mood can improve when you cut down or stop drinking. Using alcohol to manage social anxiety can prevent you from developing social and coping skills.
Yet many of us choose to drink socially. This
may reflect alcohol's actions on specific brain circuits which make us feel euphoric and less anxious
. Alcohol may also make us more empathic and cause us to see other people as more attractive.
A few of the more dangerous societal effects of alcoholism include
increased injuries to self, aggression against others, violent crimes, child abuse, spouse abuse and traffic fatalities
.
How does alcohol affect a person's behavior?
Alcohol is a depressant, meaning it can
disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in your brain and affect your feelings, thoughts and behaviour
. Alcohol affects the part of your brain that controls inhibition, so after a drink or two you may feel relaxed, less anxious and more confident.
How does alcohol abuse affect the community?
Alcohol use has been identified as a major risk factor for acute and chronic health harms and
imparts economic, health, and social costs
to individuals, communities, and societies (Rehm et al. 2009). Alcohol intoxication is linked to injury, violence, and traffic crashes (Edwards et al.
How can alcohol affect your emotional health?
Regular, heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the brain that are vital for good mental health. So while we might feel relaxed after a drink, in the long run alcohol has an impact on mental health and
can contribute to feelings of depression and anxiety, and make stress harder to deal with
.
Alcohol is a depressant and therefore has a sedative effect
, which is why many people often use the substance to “unwind” or relax.
Although alcohol can temporarily reduce symptoms of social anxiety – which is the reason many turn to it – Stein and Walker note that
alcohol can also increase anxiety, irritability, or depression a few hours later or the next day
. Even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect one's mood and anxiety level.
Is social drinking OK?
Social drinking is generally safe as long as the drinker stays well within their limits of safe alcohol consumption and does not engage in risky behavior
.
Social impact can be defined as
the net effect of an activity on a community and the well-being of individuals and families
. At CSI, we take a systems approach to improving social impact through government, business and social purpose sectors.
Alcohol abuse reverberates outwards, affecting more individuals than just a person's inner circle. Alcohol abuse not only impacts individuals and their family's, but creates a lasting social impact on the community around them.
People with high levels of social anxiety typically report that alcohol helps them feel more comfortable in social situations
. Thus, it is not surprising that individuals with clinically diagnosed social anxiety disorder have a higher incidence of alcohol–related problems than does the general population.
Does alcohol make it easier to Socialise?
Myth 2: Alcohol makes it easier for people to socialise. Truth:
Alcohol in small quantities can make people feel more relaxed and sociable
. However, alcohol is a “downer”. Drinking too much alcohol can make people want to withdraw from others.
- Eat before or during an event.
- Decide on a maximum number of drinks beforehand.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Add extra ice to your beverage.
- Avoid drinking games and shots.
- Pace yourself.
- Spend time with friends who drink less.
