
Is the pressure on to get drunk?
Are your mates putting pressure on you to drink when you don’t want to? It’s your choice and you can say no.
Need help?
For confidential info, help and advice:
Talk to FRANK
0800 77 66 00 (24/7)
Lancashire Youth Zone
0800 51 11 11 (10am to 10pm)
Text your worries or concerns to:
07786 51 11 11
See someone face to face
Or chat online here
CRINGE! Like my look?
Errrr no!
No one want's to look like this. Alcohol has many affects on your body and drinking too much can make you ill.
Did you know?
- Other names for alcohol include booze, poison, brew, giggle juice, brewski, vino, tipple, hard stuff and hooch
- Drinking alcohol in your early teens can harm the development of your brain
- More people in their twenties are dying from liver disease as a result of drinking heavily in their teens

Ask Ed
What does alcohol do to my body?
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)
How can alcohol affect me?
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.
What is a safe amount to drink?
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. Remember, if you do drink to make sure you’re with a responsible adult who will stop you doing anything that could be dangerous.
What do I do if my friends are pressurising me to get drunk?
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.
Worried about someone close to you that is drinking too much?
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.