Hi, I'm Miss Kumar, and I'm really pleased that you've chosen to learn with me today.

Today's lesson is called "The facts about alcohol" and it's taken from our unit "Risky substances: Why do people use alcohol and drugs?" Some parts of today's lesson may feel upsetting or uncomfortable.

We recommend that you are accompanied by an adult.

If at any stage you do feel uncomfortable or upset, close the video and speak to a trusted adult.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can describe the effects and risks of alcohol and explain why some people choose to drink alcohol.

Before we begin any learning, let's just remind ourselves of those all-important ground rules.

Laura reminds us to listen to others.

It is really important that while we are having a discussion that you listen carefully to other people and that we take turns.

Jacob says, "No judgement !" This should be a safe space for people to have a discussion.

It's really important that we don't make anyone feel judged.

Andeep reminds us to respect privacy.

If we decide to share examples of things, please make sure that you don't give away too much information that it's then easy to identify who it is that you might be talking about.

And finally, Izzy says, it's okay to choose your level of participation.

If you don't want to answer a question or you don't want to take part in a discussion, that's absolutely fine.

No one should be made to feel put on the spot.

Throughout the lesson today, you'll see that there are some words in bold black font.

These are our keywords.

Let's take a quick look at our keywords now and their definitions.

Alcohol.

Alcohol is a special sort of liquid that can change how people feel and act.

It is found in drinks like beer and wine.

Poisoning.

This is when someone eats, drinks, or touches something that can harm their body, like a dangerous chemical or even some plants or food.

Addiction.

This is when someone cannot stop taking a substance.

Dependency.

In this context, dependency is a feeling of needing alcohol to carry out normal daily activities.

And finally, boundary.

This is an imaginary line separating what a person will or won't allow.

Today's lesson is split into three parts.

Let's start with part one.

What effect does alcohol have? Alcohol is a strong chemical which affects the body and mind.

Alcohol is a liquid.

It's commonly found in beer, wine, and spirits.

How alcohol affects a body depends on lots of different things.

It can depend on how old a person is.

It can depend on the size of a person.

It can also depend on the biological sex, that is, whether somebody was born as a female or a male.

There are lots of effects of alcohol.

We can separate these into short-term effects and long-term effects.

Some short-term effects of alcohol can be seen within just minutes of drinking it.

Let's take a look at some short-term effects of alcohol now.

Some of the short-term effects of alcohol include heart rate speeding up.

Becoming more chatty and sociable.

The brain or nervous system slowing down, which can cause a loss of control.

Slower reactions and poor coordination.

Coordination might include being able to walk in a straight line or holding your balance.

More risk-taking, aggressive, and anti-social behaviour.

And a risk of alcohol poisoning.

Let's take a look at our first check for understanding.

True or false? Alcohol causes slower reactions and poor coordination.

Feel free to pause the video while you have a think and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is true.

Have a think about why.

Alcohol slows the brain and the nervous system down.

This results in slower reactions and poor coordination.

Well done if you got that right.

Long-term effects of alcohol are the result of heavy drinking over a long period of time.

Some of the long-term effects of alcohol on the body include a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

A weakened immune system.

The immune system is the part of the body that helps us to fight off infection.

If we have a weakened immune system, it means that we might struggle to recover if and when we are poorly.

Damage to organs, such as the liver and pancreas.

Impact on mental health and well-being.

Social impact, such as relationships and employment.

And dependency or addiction.

Let's take another look at a check for understanding.

Which of these are long-term effects of alcohol? Is it A, a weakened immune system? Is it B, increased heart rate? Is it C, damage to the liver and pancreas? Or is it D, dependency or addiction? Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

The answers are A, C, and D.

Weakened immune system, damage to liver and pancreas, dependency or addiction are all long-term effects of alcohol.

Well done if you got that right.

That brings us to the first task of today's lesson, Task A.

Here is a table.

We've got short-term effects on the left, long-term effects on the right, and your job is to sort the effects at the bottom into the right category.

The effects are damage to organs, more chatty and sociable, impact on relationship and or employment, heart rate speeds up, impact on mental health, and brain and nervous system slow.

Feel free to pause the video while you carry out this task and when you're ready to see the answers, press play.

How did you get on? Let's take a look at some of the answers together.

Your answers should include the following.

Under short-term effects, you should have heart rate speeds up.

Brain and nervous system slow.

More chatty and sociable.

Under long-term effects, you should have impact on mental health.

Damage to organs.

Impact on relationships and or employment.

Well done if you got those right.

That brings us to the second part of today's lesson.

Why do people drink alcohol? There are many reasons why people might choose to drink alcohol.

Let's take a look at some possible reasons now.

Andeep says, "They are curious about the taste." For some people, they might just choose to drink alcohol because they want to know what it tastes like.

Jacob says, "They feel more confident or relaxed after alcohol." You may remember from the first part of the lesson that one short-term effect of drinking alcohol could be that people feel more relaxed or sociable.

If someone struggles in a social setting or they feel nervous about talking to new people, they might find that drinking alcohol helps them to feel more relaxed or sociable.

Laura says, "They give into peer pressure to fit in with people around them." If a person is surrounded by family or friends that are drinking alcohol, they might feel that they need to drink alcohol so that they can fit in.

And finally, Izzy reminds us that "Alcohol might help some people to forget their worries." If a person is struggling with something, they might find that drinking alcohol helps them to forget about that concern.

Maybe it's a form of escape.

Many adults enjoy drinking alcohol with friends, as it makes them feel more chatty, relaxed, and sociable.

However, it should be the company of friends which makes this enjoyable, not just the alcohol itself.

Let's have a look at another check for understanding.

True or false? Some people drink alcohol because of peer pressure.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is true.

Have a think about why.

Some people might give into peer pressure because they want to fit in with others around them.

Well done if you got that right.

Adverts in the media often show drinking alcohol to be a positive or a glamorous thing to do.

The message within these adverts seems to be that the only way to have fun is by drinking alcohol.

Jacob asks, "Why might adverts for alcohol show drinking alcohol as a positive thing, despite the health risks?" Adverts have the power to influence and encourage people to buy alcohol.

The adverts show alcohol as a positive thing so the alcohol companies can sell more of their products and make more money.

However, it is important to know the facts and the risks about alcohol.

Time for another check for understanding.

Which of these images show drinking alcohol as a positive thing to do? Is it A, B, or C? Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is A and C.

If you take a close look at images A and C, people are dressed fashionably and glamorously.

And particularly in image C, people are raising their glasses with happy, positive expressions on their face.

Whereas in image B, it's a negative image of someone's relationship with alcohol.

The person in the image is holding their head in their hands.

Well done if you got that right.

In the UK, it is illegal, that means against the law, for anyone under the age of 18 years to buy alcohol.

It is also illegal, or against the law, to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18 years.

If you are under the age of 18 years and you are caught drinking alcohol in public, you could be stopped, fined, or even arrested by the police.

Let's have a look at another check for understanding.

True or false? In the UK, it is legal for anyone under the age of 18 years to buy alcohol.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is false.

Have a think about why.

In the UK, the legal age for buying alcohol is 18 years or over.

Well done if you got that right.

That brings us to the second task for today's lesson, Task B.

Alex is a little confused about alcohol.

"If alcohol can affect people's health negatively, why do people drink it?" Explain to Alex why people choose to drink alcohol, giving three reasons in your answer.

Feel free to pause the video while you carry out this task and then press play when you're ready to look at the answers.

How did you get on? Your answers might have included the following.

People may be curious about the taste of alcohol.

People can feel more confident or relaxed after drinking alcohol.

People may give in to peer pressure to fit in with others around them.

People might drink alcohol to forget their worries.

Or people may see alcohol as a glamorous or fun thing to do from adverts.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the third and final part of today's lesson.

What are the risks of drinking alcohol? Although many adults drink alcohol responsibly, there is always a risk of drinking too much.

Sometimes, drinking too much alcohol can lead to problems such as addiction or dependency.

These are two different things.

Addiction to alcohol is when someone cannot stop drinking it despite the fact that they know it could harm them.

Alcohol is addictive because it can change the way that our brains work.

When someone drinks alcohol, they might feel happy or relaxed at first.

Over time, their body starts to want or crave that feeling more.

This means that they might start drinking alcohol more to get that feeling, even when they don't want to.

In the same way that some people get attached to certain games or toys, alcohol can make some people feel like they need it to be happy.

Let's take a look at this check for understanding.

True or false? Drinking too much alcohol can lead to addiction.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is true.

Have a think about why.

Alcohol is addictive because it changes the way that our brains work.

When someone drinks alcohol, they might feel happy or relaxed.

Over time, they might start to drink alcohol more often because their body wants that feeling more.

Well done if you got that right.

Dependency on alcohol is slightly different.

Dependency on alcohol is a feeling of needing or relying on alcohol to carry out normal daily activities.

The body can become so used to, or reliant on, alcohol that it finds it very difficult to cope without.

Here's another check for understanding.

Fill in the blank below.

Dependency on alcohol is a feeling of blank alcohol to carry out normal daily activities.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The missing word is needing.

Dependency on alcohol is a feeling of needing alcohol to carry out normal daily activities.

Well done if you got that right.

Binge drinking is drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short space of time.

Unfortunately, young people are more likely to binge drink, which can cause alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous.

It can lead to a higher risk of seizures, which could include fits, accidents, or hospital treatment.

Let's have another check for understanding.

Alcohol poisoning could lead to a higher risk of, A, sore throats.

B, loss of smell.

Or C, seizures.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The answer is C.

Well done if you got that right.

Laura tells us, "It is really important for people to have clear boundaries around alcohol." Izzy reminds us, "Boundaries are imaginary lines separating what a person will or won't allow." Assertive language is a way in which you can share your point of view in a clear, firm, and respectful way.

Jacob tells us, "It can be a good idea to practise some assertive phrases to prepare for tricky situations involving alcohol." Here are some examples of assertive phrases which can help.

Andeep says, "No thanks, I don't want to." This is clear, firm, but it's still respectful.

Izzy says, "It is my choice and I am choosing not to." Again, this is clear, firm, but still respectful.

Laura says, "If you feel confident, you could explain the risks.

Remember, talk to a trusted adult, especially if you are under the age of 18 years." And Jacob tells us that "Good friends should respect your boundaries and should not pressure you." Let's have a look at another check for understanding.

Fill in the blank below.

It is important to have clear blank around alcohol.

These are imaginary lines that separate what you will or won't allow.

Feel free to pause the video, have a little think, and then press play when you're ready to move on.

How did you get on? The missing word was boundaries.

Well done if you got that right.

It is important to have clear boundaries around alcohol.

These are imaginary lines that separate what you will or won't allow.

That brings us to the very final task of the lesson, Task C.

Task C is split into two parts.

Let's take a look at part one.

Match each risk of drinking alcohol to the correct definition.

The risks are on the left-hand side.

Addiction.

Dependency.

Alcohol poisoning.

The definitions are on the right.

Relying on alcohol to feel alright.

An effect of binge drinking, which can lead to seizures, accidents, or hospital treatment.

And in this instance, unable to stop drinking alcohol, knowing it could be harmful.

Feel free to pause the video, carry out the task, and press play when you're ready to look at the answers together.

How did you get on? Your answers should include addiction, in this context, is unable to stop drinking alcohol, knowing it could be harmful.

Dependency, in this context, is relying on alcohol to feel alright.

And alcohol poisoning is an effect of underage drinking, which can lead to seizures, accidents, or hospital admission.

Well done if you got those right.

Now let's take a look at the second of the tasks.

Task two.

Jun is worried about a situation.

"A friend of mine has asked if I want to try some of her alcoholic drink.

I don't know how to get out of it." With a partner, discuss some assertive phrases that Jun could use.

Feel free to pause the video, carry out the task, and when you're ready to look at the answers, press play.

How did you get on? Your answers might have included the following.

No thanks, I don't want to.

It is my choice and I am choosing not to.

Drinking alcohol could cause alcohol poisoning, which is dangerous.

Well done if your answers were along those lines.

That brings us to the end of today's lesson.

Let's take a look at the lesson's summary.

Alcohol is a strong chemical that has short-term and long-term effects on the body.

People drink alcohol for lots of different reasons, such as curiosity or peer pressure.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 years to buy alcohol.

Although many adults drink alcohol responsibly, too much alcohol can lead to addiction and dependency.

Binge drinking could also cause alcohol poisoning.

Clear boundaries can help to keep us safe around alcohol.

Well done on all your hard work today.

I hope that you have learned something and look forward to seeing you again soon.