Alcohol is known as a ‘’depressant’’ drug because it can slow down parts of your brain and this can affect your thinking, behaviour and even your heart rate.

Drinking and the law

It’s against the law:

• For someone under 18 to buy alcohol
• For someone under 18 to drink alcohol in licensed premises like a pub or bar, except where the child is 16 or 17 years old and accompanied by an adult. In this case it is legal for them to drink, but not buy beer, wine and cider with a meal
• For an adult to buy alcohol for someone under 18, except as above

Did you know you can be stopped, fined or arrested by police if you’re under 18 and drinking alcohol in public.

Three things to remember to keep yourself safe

1. Don’t leave your drink unattended or accept drinks from strangers in case someone adds something to it that you don’t know about
2. Look after yourself and your friends – be aware of your surroundings
3. If a person is ‘drunk’, they are not legally able to give consent to engage in sexual activity

Top tips

It can be very difficult when you’re at a party with friends and everyone else is drinking. You can feel left out if you don’t want to drink. But alcohol affects everyone differently, and if you’re not used to drinking, you can feel out of control quite quickly.

Peer pressure is when friends try to make you do things you don’t feel comfortable with.

Remember, you are in control of your body and can choose what you do or don’t do.

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If you say ‘no’, real friends will accept and respect your decision.

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You could say that you don’t feel very well, you’ve got to be up early in the morning or that you don’t want a hangover the next day!

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Have a soft drink in your hand already so your friends presume you already have a drink.