When you drink alcohol it travels to your stomach and small intestine. The alcohol is absorbed through the lining of your stomach and intestine and passes into your bloodstream.
The effect this has on the body depends on:

• what you’ve drunk, how much you have had and how quickly
• whether you’ve eaten (food slows down the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream)
• your body shape (the same amount of alcohol will have a larger effect on a smaller person)
• whether you are a girl or boy (alcohol flows around the body in water – girls have more body fat and less water than boys, so alcohol levels tend to be higher in girls).

Alcohol affects everyone differently, depending on gender, size and weight. Even for the same person, it depends on what they’ve been drinking, and whether they’ve eaten anything first.

Alcohol makes people feel less self-conscious and more chatty.

Drinking too much can lead to you saying or doing things you wish you hadn’t; or even worse you could pass out and choke on your own vomit.

The best advice is not to drink alcohol until you’re 18 – there is a law for a reason.

Check out the section on this page about the law and remember if you do drink to make sure you’re with a responsible adult who will stop you doing anything that could be dangerous.

It’s your choice, stand up for yourself and say ‘no’.

If you’re finding this hard, have an excuse ready, such as a football match or an early start the next day.

If your mates carry on at you then are they really your mates? Try to spend more time with people who are into the same things as you.

If you find yourself in a sticky situation involving booze where you feel uncomfortable walk away and ring someone to pick you up.

If someone close to you has a problem with drinking, then you should talk to someone you trust, so that they can get the help they need. Try and speak to a friend, teacher, family member or a friend’s parent; or ring Childline on 0800 1111.