What Happens in an Overdose of Alcohol

Most people think of drinking too much as a bad hangover: a headache, nausea, and a wasted morning. An overdose of alcohol is something very different. It is a medical emergency in which alcohol overwhelms the body and begins to shut down the systems that keep a person alive. Breathing slows, the heart struggles, body temperature falls, and the person may lose consciousness and never wake up without help. Every year, people die from alcohol poisoning, often because those around them thought the person was simply sleeping it off, or because no one realised how serious the situation had become.

This article explains, in plain words, what happens in an overdose of alcohol: how the body normally handles alcohol, why it can be overwhelmed, what alcohol poisoning does to breathing, the heart, the brain and body temperature, why vomiting and choking become dangerous, and what to do if someone may have taken too much. It is general information, not individual medical advice. If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, call emergency services immediately. Do not wait to see if they get better on their own.

What Alcohol Poisoning Really Means

Alcohol poisoning happens when a person drinks a large amount of alcohol in a short time, and the amount in the blood rises to a level the body cannot cope with. The liver, the organ that breaks down alcohol, can only process a limited amount at a time. When alcohol arrives faster than the liver can deal with it, the level in the blood keeps rising, and the alcohol begins to affect the brain and the rest of the body more and more strongly. The person may feel drunk at first, then confused, then sleepy, and then unresponsive. That progression is not a sign that they are sleeping safely. It is a sign that the alcohol is taking over the systems that control breathing and consciousness.

One of the most dangerous things about alcohol poisoning is that the alcohol level can keep rising even after a person has stopped drinking. Alcohol that is still in the stomach continues to be absorbed into the blood for some time after the last drink. A person who has stopped drinking and seems to be settling down may actually be getting worse, because more alcohol is still entering their blood. This is why someone who has drunk a lot should never be left alone to sleep it off, and why the situation needs to be watched carefully even if the person seems stable at first.

Another danger is that alcohol poisoning can happen to anyone, not only to people who drink regularly. In fact, people who do not drink often may be at greater risk, because their bodies are not used to alcohol and they may not know their limits. Young people at parties, people drinking on an empty stomach, people drinking quickly in games or challenges, and people who have not eaten or slept well are all more vulnerable. The body does not care how experienced a drinker someone is. It cares how much alcohol is in the blood, and how fast it got there.

It is also important to understand that alcohol poisoning is not the same as being very drunk. Being drunk means the alcohol is affecting judgement, coordination and speech, but the body’s basic systems are still working. Alcohol poisoning means those basic systems are failing. The person may not respond to being spoken to or shaken, their breathing may become slow or irregular, their skin may become pale or bluish, and their body may become cold. Those are signs of a body in trouble, and they need urgent help, not time alone.

How the Body Processes Alcohol and Why It Can Be Overwhelmed

When a person drinks, alcohol is absorbed from the stomach and the small intestine into the blood. From there it travels around the body, reaching the brain within minutes. The liver then begins to break it down, using enzymes that work at a steady, limited rate. The liver cannot be hurried. Drinking coffee, taking a cold shower, eating food or exercising does not make the liver work faster. The only thing that lowers the alcohol level in the blood is time, and the liver needs a long time to deal with a large amount.

The problem in an overdose is speed. If a person drinks quickly, the alcohol floods into the blood faster than the liver can remove it, and the level rises sharply. Drinking on an empty stomach makes this worse, because there is no food to slow the absorption. Drinks with a high alcohol content, and drinks taken as shots or in quick succession, also raise the level faster. The stomach itself can become irritated by the alcohol, which is why people often feel sick, but the irritation does not stop the alcohol from being absorbed. The body has no way to reject a large amount of alcohol once it has been swallowed.

Body size, sex, age and general health all affect how alcohol is handled. A smaller person will reach a dangerous level with less alcohol than a larger person, because the same amount is spread through a smaller body. Older people, people who are ill, and people who are taking certain medicines may also be more sensitive. But these differences do not make anyone safe. A large, healthy adult can still suffer alcohol poisoning if they drink enough, quickly enough. The idea that a big person or a regular drinker cannot overdose is a dangerous myth.

Tolerance is another misleading factor. People who drink regularly may feel less drunk after the same amount, because their brains have adapted to alcohol. But tolerance does not mean the liver can process alcohol faster, and it does not protect the body from poisoning. A regular drinker may not feel as drunk, but their blood alcohol level can still be dangerously high, and their breathing and heart can still fail. Feeling less drunk is not the same as being less at risk. In fact, it can be more dangerous, because the person may keep drinking, believing they are coping, when their body is already in trouble.

Breathing Slows and the Heart Struggles

Alcohol affects the brain in a way that slows down the signals that control breathing. In a normal state, the brain constantly monitors the level of carbon dioxide in the blood and tells the lungs to breathe faster or slower to keep it in balance. Alcohol dulls that monitoring system. Breathing becomes slower, shallower and less regular. The person may take long pauses between breaths, or breathe in a pattern that is uneven and weak. When breathing slows too much, the body does not get enough oxygen, and carbon dioxide builds up in the blood. That build-up can itself be dangerous, and it can make the person even less responsive.

In severe cases, breathing can stop altogether. This is one of the main ways people die from alcohol poisoning. The brain, starved of oxygen, stops sending the signal to breathe, and the lungs stop working. This can happen while the person is unconscious and cannot call for help, and it can happen without warning. That is why slow, irregular or noisy breathing in someone who has drunk a lot is a serious warning sign, and why the person needs emergency help straight away, not later in the morning.

The heart is also affected. Alcohol can disturb the heart’s rhythm, making it beat irregularly or too slowly. It can lower blood pressure, which means less blood reaches the brain and other organs. The heart muscle itself can be weakened by a large amount of alcohol, and in some cases the heart can stop. These effects are more likely when the alcohol level is very high, but they can happen suddenly, without the person showing obvious signs beforehand. A person who seems to be sleeping peacefully may in fact have a heart that is struggling.

Body temperature is another problem. Alcohol widens the blood vessels near the skin, which makes a person feel warm, even though they are actually losing heat. The body loses heat faster, and the core temperature falls. This is especially dangerous in cold weather, or when a person is lying outside or in an unheated room. A low body temperature, called hypothermia, can itself be life-threatening, and it makes the other effects of alcohol poisoning worse. The person may feel warm and refuse a coat or a blanket, while their body is in fact becoming dangerously cold. That false feeling of warmth is one of the reasons alcohol and cold weather are such a dangerous combination.

Confusion, Collapse and Losing Consciousness

As the alcohol level rises, the brain’s ability to think clearly is lost. At first, the person may be confused, slurring their words, struggling to walk straight, or saying things that do not make sense. They may not know where they are, or who they are with. They may become aggressive, tearful or unusually quiet. These changes are often dismissed as normal drunken behaviour, but they are signs that the brain is being affected more deeply than usual. When confusion is severe, the person may not be able to understand simple instructions, or to respond sensibly to questions.

As the level rises further, the person may collapse. They may fall, injure themselves, or simply sink to the floor and be unable to get up. Collapse is not the same as falling asleep. A person who has collapsed from alcohol poisoning may not respond when their name is called, when they are shaken, or when their cheek is pinched. Their eyes may be closed, their body limp, and their breathing slow. This state is called unconsciousness, and it means the brain has stopped responding normally to the world around it. An unconscious person cannot protect themselves, cannot call for help, and cannot tell anyone what is wrong.

Unconsciousness is dangerous for several reasons. First, the person cannot control their airway, which is the passage that carries air to the lungs. If they vomit while unconscious, they may breathe the vomit into their lungs, which can block breathing or cause a serious lung infection. Second, they cannot move away from danger, such as cold, traffic, or a fall. Third, they cannot tell anyone how much they drank, or what else they may have taken, which makes it harder for medical staff to help them. An unconscious person needs to be watched constantly, and needs professional help as soon as possible.

It is a common and dangerous mistake to think that an unconscious person who has been drinking is simply sleeping. Sleep is a state from which a person can be woken, and in which breathing remains regular and the body responds to touch and sound. Unconsciousness from alcohol poisoning is different. The person does not wake up, their breathing is slow or irregular, and their body does not respond normally. If you cannot wake someone, or if their breathing worries you, do not assume they are sleeping. Treat it as an emergency and get help immediately. The difference between sleep and unconsciousness can be the difference between life and death.

Vomiting, Choking and Other Dangers

Vomiting is common after drinking too much, because alcohol irritates the stomach and disturbs the brain’s control of nausea. In a person who is awake, vomiting is unpleasant but usually not life-threatening, because they can lean forward, clear their mouth, and breathe. In a person who is unconscious or very drowsy, vomiting is far more dangerous. The muscles that normally protect the airway do not work properly, and vomit can go into the lungs instead of out of the mouth. This is called aspiration, and it can block the airway, cause choking, or lead to a serious lung infection that can be fatal even if the person survives the alcohol itself.

This is why the position of an unconscious person matters so much. Health guidance advises that a person who is unconscious but breathing should be placed on their side, in what is often called the recovery position, so that vomit can drain out of the mouth rather than into the lungs. This is not a treatment for alcohol poisoning, and it does not make the person safe on their own. It is a temporary measure to reduce the risk of choking while waiting for emergency help. The person still needs medical attention urgently, and they should never be left alone.

Other dangers can add to the risk. A person who has drunk too much may fall and hit their head, suffering a head injury that is hidden by the alcohol. They may wander into traffic, fall into water, or get into a fight they would normally avoid. Alcohol impairs judgement and coordination, so accidents are far more likely. In cold weather, they may fall asleep outside and suffer hypothermia. In hot weather, they may become dehydrated, because alcohol makes the body lose water. Each of these dangers can turn a bad night into a tragedy, and they are all more likely when the alcohol level is high.

Seizures are another possible danger, although they are less common. In some people, a very high alcohol level, or the sudden fall in alcohol level after heavy drinking, can trigger a seizure, which is a sudden loss of control of the body with shaking and loss of consciousness. A seizure in someone who has been drinking needs urgent medical help, because it can be a sign of serious brain disturbance, and because the person may injure themselves or stop breathing during it. If someone has a seizure, do not try to hold them down or put anything in their mouth. Call for emergency help and stay with them until it arrives.

Mixing Alcohol With Other Substances and Risky Situations

Alcohol poisoning becomes even more dangerous when alcohol is mixed with other substances. Some medicines, including painkillers, sleeping tablets, anxiety medicines and some cold remedies, can increase the effects of alcohol on the brain and breathing. When taken together, they can slow breathing far more than either would on its own. The combination can be fatal, even when the amount of alcohol alone might not have been enough to cause poisoning. People who take regular medicines should be especially careful, and should ask a health professional or pharmacist about alcohol if they are unsure.

Illegal drugs and other substances can also make alcohol poisoning worse. Stimulants may make a person feel more alert, masking the effects of alcohol and leading them to drink more than they otherwise would. Depressants, which slow the brain and body, can add to alcohol’s effects on breathing and consciousness. The combination is unpredictable, because the person may not know what they have taken, how much, or how it will interact with alcohol. That unpredictability is itself a danger, and it is one of the reasons emergency staff need to know everything a person has taken, not just the alcohol.

Drinking games, challenges and pressure to drink quickly are among the most dangerous situations. When people drink to keep up with others, or to prove they can handle a large amount, they often drink far more, far faster, than they would on their own. The alcohol level rises sharply, and by the time the person feels the effects, they have already drunk too much. The peer pressure that drives this behaviour can be strong, especially among young people, but the consequences can be severe. No game, dare or social expectation is worth a life, and friends who encourage heavy drinking may not understand the risk they are creating.

Drinking on an empty stomach, drinking after a long period without food or sleep, and drinking when already ill or dehydrated all increase the risk. The body is already under strain, and alcohol adds to that strain. A person who has not eaten is likely to absorb alcohol faster, and a person who is dehydrated is likely to feel the effects more strongly. These factors do not cause alcohol poisoning on their own, but they make it more likely, and they make it harder for the body to cope. Eating before drinking, drinking slowly, and staying with friends who will look out for each other can reduce the risk, but they do not make heavy drinking safe.

What to Do in an Emergency and What Happens Afterwards

If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, the most important thing is to get help immediately. Call the emergency number in your country and explain clearly that you think the person has drunk too much alcohol and may have alcohol poisoning. Tell the operator what you know: how much the person drank, if you know, what else they may have taken, and what their breathing and responsiveness are like. Do not wait to see if they improve, and do not try to deal with it on your own. Alcohol poisoning can get worse quickly, and professional help is needed.

While you wait for help, stay with the person. Do not leave them alone, even for a short time. If they are unconscious but breathing, place them on their side so that vomit can drain from their mouth, and keep them warm with a coat or blanket. Do not give them food, drink or coffee, and do not try to make them vomit. Do not put them in a cold shower, and do not try to walk them around to sober them up. None of these things help, and some can make the situation worse. The best thing you can do is to stay, watch their breathing, keep them on their side, and wait for the emergency services.

If the person stops breathing, or you cannot feel a pulse, and you have been trained in first aid, follow the training you have received. If you have not been trained, the emergency operator can talk you through what to do until help arrives. Stay on the phone and follow their instructions. It is frightening to be in this situation, but staying calm and following clear instructions can save a life. The operator is there to help you, and they will stay with you on the phone.

In hospital, the treatment for alcohol poisoning focuses on keeping the person alive while the body clears the alcohol. Staff will monitor breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature, and they may give oxygen or fluids through a drip. In severe cases, they may need to help the person breathe with a machine. They will also watch for complications such as low blood sugar, which is common after heavy drinking, and for injuries that may have happened while the person was drunk. There is no medicine that makes the liver break down alcohol faster. The body has to do that work itself, and the hospital’s job is to keep the person safe while it happens.

The morning after an overdose is not necessarily the end of the danger. A person who survives alcohol poisoning may still feel very ill for a day or more, with nausea, headache, confusion and exhaustion. They may have injured themselves without realising it, or they may have breathing problems from vomit in the lungs. They need rest, fluids, and medical advice, and they should not drink again to feel better. In some cases, the experience is a warning sign that drinking has become a problem, and the person may need help to change their relationship with alcohol. That help is available, and asking for it is a sensible and brave step, not a sign of failure.

My Take:

I will be honest with you about how I see this subject, because I think honesty matters more than comfort when a life is at stake. An overdose of alcohol is not a funny story to tell the next day, and it is not a sign that someone is tough or fun to be around. It is a body failing, quietly and quickly, while the people around it may not even realise what is happening. I have read too many accounts of people who died because their friends thought they were sleeping, or because no one wanted to make a fuss by calling for help. That is a tragedy that should not happen, and it is a tragedy that can be prevented by knowing the signs and acting fast. Knowing what to look for costs nothing, and it can be the difference between a bad night and a funeral.

What worries me most is the gap between how dangerous alcohol poisoning is and how casually people treat heavy drinking. At a party, drinking a lot is often seen as normal, even admirable. People cheer each other on, they pour another drink, they laugh at someone who has passed out. In that atmosphere, it is hard to stop and ask whether the person who has collapsed is actually in danger. But the body does not care about the atmosphere. It cares about the alcohol level in the blood, and when that level gets too high, the body starts to shut down. I think we need to change the way we talk about heavy drinking, so that stopping someone from drinking too much is seen as caring, not as spoiling the fun. The person who says enough is not a killjoy. They are the person who noticed what everyone else missed.

The myth that someone can sleep off an overdose is the one I find most dangerous. Sleep is safe. Alcohol poisoning is not sleep. A person who is sleeping can be woken, breathes regularly, and responds to being spoken to. A person with alcohol poisoning may not wake up, may breathe slowly or irregularly, and may not respond at all. The difference is not always obvious at first, especially in a dark room or at a noisy party, but it is a difference that matters. If you are not sure whether someone is sleeping or unconscious, treat it as an emergency. Call for help. It is far better to call and find out the person is safe than to wait and find out too late that they were not. A wasted phone call is nothing. A wasted hour can be everything.

I also think about the fear that stops people from calling for help. Some people worry that they will get into trouble, that the police will be involved, or that their friend will be angry with them. Some worry that they will be blamed for the drinking, or that calling an ambulance will ruin the night. Those fears are understandable, but they are not a good reason to let someone die. Emergency services are there to save lives, not to punish people for drinking. A friend who is angry that you called for help is a friend who does not yet understand how close they came to dying. I would rather have an angry friend who is alive than a friend who is not there at all. The night can be ruined and rebuilt. A life cannot.

The idea that coffee, cold showers or fresh air can sober someone up is another belief that puts lives at risk. None of those things makes the liver work faster. They may make a person feel more awake for a few minutes, but they do not lower the alcohol level in the blood, and they do not make breathing safer. A person who has been given coffee and put in a cold shower may look more alert, while their body is still in danger. The only thing that helps is time, and the only safe place to spend that time, when the alcohol level is dangerously high, is under medical care. I think this is a fact that should be taught to every young person, before they ever go to a party where heavy drinking happens. It should be as well known as looking both ways before crossing a road.

I think about young people in particular, because they are often the ones who drink the most, the fastest, and with the least understanding of the risk. They may not have eaten properly, they may be tired, they may be under pressure to keep up with friends, and they may not know how much they have drunk. They may also be afraid to ask for help, because they do not want to look weak or to get their friends into trouble. I believe adults have a responsibility to talk to young people about alcohol poisoning plainly, without lectures and without scare stories that they will ignore. The message should be simple: know the signs, look after each other, and call for help if you are worried. That is not a complicated rule, and it can save a life. A teenager who knows the signs is a safer friend than a teenager who has only been told not to drink.

The part of this subject that stays with me is the silence of alcohol poisoning. A person who is overdosing does not usually cry out for help. They become quiet, they slump, they stop responding. In a loud room, that quietness can be missed. In a dark room, it can be missed even more easily. That is why I think it is so important for friends to check on each other, to notice when someone has gone quiet, to make sure no one is left alone after drinking heavily, and to take it seriously when someone cannot be woken. Looking after each other is not an extra. It is the whole point of being with friends, and it matters most when someone is in danger. A quick check, a hand on a shoulder, a simple question can be the moment that saves a life.

I am also struck by how quickly an overdose can happen. A person can go from laughing and talking to unconscious in a short time, especially if they have drunk quickly on an empty stomach. The speed is frightening, because it leaves little time to react. That is why prevention matters as much as emergency action. Eating before drinking, drinking slowly, alternating alcohol with water, and knowing when to stop are not boring rules. They are practical ways to keep the alcohol level from rising too fast. I know that in the middle of a celebration, those rules can feel like an interruption. But they are the difference between a night that ends with a headache and a night that ends in hospital. Planning ahead takes five minutes. Dealing with an overdose takes a night, a hospital stay, and sometimes much longer.

Planning ahead is something friends can do together, and it works better as a group than as a private promise. Before a night out, a group can agree on simple things: eat a proper meal first, drink water between drinks, keep an eye on each other, and make sure nobody goes home alone. One person can stay sober, or drink much less, so that there is always someone clear-headed enough to notice trouble. That person is not missing out. They are the safety net for everyone else, and on another night someone else can take the turn. Friends who plan like this are not being dull. They are being the kind of friends people can rely on when it matters.

I want to say something about the morning after, because I think it is often misunderstood. Surviving an overdose does not mean the person is fine. They may have damaged their lungs by breathing in vomit, they may have injured their head in a fall, they may have low blood sugar, or they may simply be exhausted and confused. They need rest, care and medical advice, not another drink and not a joke about the night before. And if the overdose was not a one-off, but part of a pattern of heavy drinking, then it is a warning that something needs to change. I believe that warning should be taken seriously, with help and support, not with shame. A person who has survived an overdose has been given a second chance, and that chance should not be wasted on pretending nothing happened.

I think about the families who have lost someone to alcohol poisoning, and I find it hard to accept how preventable many of those deaths were. A call made an hour earlier, a friend who stayed instead of leaving, a person who was placed on their side instead of on their back, could have made the difference. Those are small actions, and they do not require medical training. They require attention, care and the willingness to act. I hope that anyone reading this will remember that, and will act if they ever find themselves in that situation. You do not need to be a doctor to save a life. You need to notice, to stay, and to call for help. Those three things are within everyone’s reach, and they are enough.

There is another side to this that deserves attention, and that is the person who keeps drinking heavily even after a scare. An overdose can be a turning point, but it can also be brushed aside as a bad night that will not happen again. I think it is worth asking, gently and honestly, whether the drinking has become a problem that needs help. That is not an accusation. It is a question asked out of care. Help exists, in many forms, from talking to a doctor to joining a support group, and asking for it is a brave step rather than a failure. A person who has survived an overdose and then seeks help is doing something far harder than drinking again. They are choosing to change, and that choice deserves respect and support from everyone around them.

I also think hosts and organisers carry some responsibility. A person who runs a party, a bar or a gathering sets the tone for how much drinking is expected. A host who keeps filling glasses, who turns drinking into a competition, or who laughs at someone who has had too much is creating danger without meaning to. A host who offers food, who keeps water on the table, who notices when someone has had enough and quietly offers them a soft drink instead is doing something genuinely caring. The atmosphere of a night is set by small decisions, and those decisions can make a gathering safer without making it less enjoyable. People remember a good night for the company and the laughter, not for how much anyone drank.

It is worth remembering that alcohol affects everyone differently, and that a person who has drunk the same amount as their friends may be in far more danger than they are. Body size, food, tiredness, illness and medicines all change how alcohol works, and a person who looks fine can be closer to danger than they appear. That is why comparing drinks is a poor way to judge safety. The question is not whether you drank as much as the person next to you. The question is how your own body is coping, and whether you are still able to think clearly, walk steadily and respond normally. When those things start to slip, it is time to stop, to drink water, to eat, and to let a friend know.

One practical point that people forget in the panic of an emergency is to remember what the person drank, how much, and when, and to tell the emergency staff honestly. Medical staff are not there to judge or to punish. They need the truth to give the right care, and a missing detail can slow them down. If the person took anything else, whether medicine or another substance, that matters just as much, and it should be mentioned plainly. A friend who stays, watches, and gives clear information is helping twice over: once by calling, and once by making the treatment that follows faster and safer. It is also worth staying at the hospital, or at least staying in contact, so that staff can ask questions if the person’s condition changes. Leaving after the ambulance arrives may feel like the job is done, but the hours that follow can still be uncertain, and a familiar face nearby is a comfort to the person and a help to the staff.

Finally, I would say this to anyone who drinks, and to anyone who spends time with people who drink: learn the signs of alcohol poisoning, and do not be afraid to use what you know. Slow or irregular breathing, pale or bluish skin, a cold body, confusion, and not responding to being spoken to or shaken are all signs that need urgent help. If you see them, call emergency services immediately. Stay with the person, keep them on their side if they are unconscious and breathing, keep them warm, and do not leave them alone. Do not give them food or drink, do not try to make them sick, and do not put them in a cold shower. Your job is to keep them as safe as you can until professional help arrives, and then to let the professionals take over. That is not a small job. It is the most important job you may ever do, and I hope you never have to do it, but I hope you are ready if you do. Readiness is not fear. It is care, and care is what friendship is for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does alcohol affect alcohol poisoning?

Alcohol poisoning happens when so much alcohol builds up in the blood that it begins to shut down the brain’s control of breathing, heart rate and consciousness. The liver can only break down alcohol at a limited rate, so drinking quickly overwhelms it and the alcohol level keeps rising. As the level rises, breathing becomes slow and irregular, the heart struggles, body temperature falls, and the person may lose consciousness. This is a medical emergency that needs immediate professional help.

Can alcohol cause deep confusion even in light users?

Yes, even people who do not drink often can become deeply confused after drinking too much in a short time, because their bodies are not used to alcohol and they may not know their limits. Confusion is a sign that alcohol is affecting the brain, and it can progress to collapse and unconsciousness if the alcohol level keeps rising. Light or occasional drinkers should not assume they are safe, especially if they drink quickly or on an empty stomach.

How long does it take for alcohol to harm emergency care?

Alcohol poisoning can develop quickly, sometimes within an hour or two of heavy drinking, because alcohol is absorbed into the blood fast and the level can keep rising after the person stops drinking. The exact time depends on how much was drunk, how quickly, and whether the person had eaten. Because the situation can worsen rapidly, anyone who may have drunk too much should be watched closely, and help should be called immediately if there are warning signs, rather than waiting to see what happens.

Does stopping alcohol help emergency care recover?

Stopping drinking prevents the alcohol level from rising further, which is essential, but a person who already has alcohol poisoning still needs urgent medical care, because the alcohol already in their body will take time to clear. Recovery in hospital involves monitoring breathing, heart rate and temperature while the liver slowly breaks down the alcohol. After surviving an overdose, avoiding alcohol gives the body its best chance to recover, and seeking support for drinking can help prevent it happening again.

Why do people keep using alcohol if it harms emergency care?

Many people drink because it is part of social life, because it feels relaxing, or because it helps them cope with stress, and they do not realise how quickly a large amount can become dangerous. Tolerance can also mislead people into thinking they can handle more than they really can, while peer pressure and drinking games can push them to drink faster than is safe. The effects of alcohol on judgement make it harder to stop once drinking has started, which is why planning ahead and looking out for each other matters.

When should someone seek advice about alcohol and unconsciousness?

Help should be sought immediately if someone who has been drinking cannot be woken, is breathing slowly or irregularly, has pale or bluish skin, feels very cold, or has vomited while unconscious. Do not wait, and do not leave the person alone. Call emergency services straight away and stay with the person until help arrives. Advice should also be sought after the emergency, if drinking is becoming a pattern, because support is available to help a person change their relationship with alcohol.

Sources

This article is general information only. It is not individual medical advice. If you are worried about your health, talk to a qualified health professional.