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Introduction
Alcohol has been a part of most societies
Alcohol lubricates social and business intercourse; aids
the digestion of food and has been used in the treatment
of wounds and disease. It not only serves as a focus of
secular ceremony but as an object of religious ritual.
Proof that alcohol has been a part of all societies is
that the human liver produces an enzyme called alcohol
dendrogenese, this has the sole function of breaking down
alcohol, first into acetalenyde (poision) then into vinegar
which then breaks up into water and carbon dioxide giving
off energy.
Since the early 1980s, there has been
a substantial decline in drinking and driving and in the
number of alcohol-related deaths and injuries on the roads.
However, drinking and driving remains one of the main
causes of death and injury. Between 1993 and 1996 casualties
in drink driving accidents had begun to rise again, but
in 1997 this trend again went into reverse and there were
further falls in the number of casualties.
In 1997 there were an estimated 540 deaths and over 16,000
injuries involving illegal blood alcohol levels. Around
half of the casualties were to people other than the drinking
drivers themselves. (1)
There were probably an additional 250 people killed in
accidents involving drivers and riders with raised blood
alcohol levels but still below the current legal limit.(2)
 Altogether,
therefore, around one in five road deaths are alcohol
related.
Stages
of Intoxication |
| Happy.
Talkative, social and relaxed |
| Excited.
Emotional, uncontrolled behaviour and slowed reactions
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| Confused.
Staggering, disorientated and slurred speech |
| Stupor
Unable to stand or walk |
| Coma.
Completely unconscious, breathing may stop resulting
in death |
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