Education and Prevention for Teens on Alcohol

• Transcript

  Last Updated: November 3, 2023

  SUPE: Hey guys, I’m SUPE, the gentle dragon. Today, we’re gonna talk about alcohol. You see this in sporting events and parties, and it seems like a cool thing to do. But is it? It’ll be up to you to decide. I’ll leave you with Bob and Michael!

  Bob: Hey Michael! Hey everybody! Have you ever heard of something called alcohol? [laughs] I’m kidding, of course. Today, we’re gonna talk about alcohol. Some of you might be thinking you know everything about it, that this will be serious and boring. We’re not gonna do that! Let’s have some fun and test your knowledge. Do you know what alcohol is made of?

  Michael: I heard on TV it’s made of “Hop” or something?

  Bob: Correct! But there’s more to it. Alcohol is made from different fruits, vegetables and cereal. Now you eat them every day, and you don’t get drunk. At least, I know I don’t. [laughs] The reason why alcohol makes people drunk is because of a process called fermentation. Fermentation is a natural process through which microorganisms like yeast and bacteria convert sugar into alcohol, called Ethanol. Ethanol is the key ingredient in alcohol and the active component that gets you drunk.

  Michael: I didn’t know that.

  Bob: Most people don’t. So, the sugar in barley makes beer, the sugar in grapes makes wine, and the sugar in potatoes makes vodka. Come on, be honest, I’m sure your little genius mind didn’t know that last one, right?

  Michael: Okay fine, I didn’t know that last one. One thing I’ve been wondering… why do people stomp on grapes when they’re making wine?

  Bob: Good question. Crushing the grapes helps release the juice and accelerate fermentation. Using your feet also helps prevent breaking the seed in the grape. It gives a smoother taste. Now that we know how alcohol’s made, let’s dive into what alcohol does.

  SUPE: Okay, now, you’re probably thinking: “Uh oh! Here we go with another sermon”. God no! I hate those. Let’s keep an open mind though. Oh my God! It hurts! [laughs]

  Bob: Thanks buddy. Now, let’s do some Biology and see how your body gets drunk, not you. [laughs] In your mouth, alcohol mixes with saliva and enters your bloodstream through tiny blood vessels. Your stomach and small intestine absorb more alcohol into your bloodstream once it reaches them. Alcohol dilates your blood vessels. This causes that feeling of warmth that most people who drink are familiar with. Your brain releases serotonin and dopamine to make you feel good. The thing is, that feeling is very temporary. Your kidneys make and release a whole bunch of urine. This decreases the water content in your body, increasing the alcohol concentration. Alcohol vapor diffuses from your blood into your lungs. Your liver breaks alcohol down into water and carbon dioxide (the gas in your body that comes out when you breath out), making you feel less drunk.

  Michael: Wow! interesting! I personally love Biology.

  Bob: Yeah, it’s pretty cool to learn how the alcohol produces its effects. Now let’s dive into the effect of alcohol on your mind. Wooh, that was intense! The way it works is when people drink alcohol, after their first drink, they often feel more relaxed, but that feeling wears off pretty fast, whether they drink more or not. After, some people will feel down, others will feel anxious. The more you drink, the more amplified these side effects will be, and they’ll last longer. Have you ever seen someone with a hangover the next day. It’s kinda depressing, isn’t it? Doesn’t look fun.

  Michael: Yeah, I saw my uncle at our family Christmas party. He got drunk and was acting stupid. The next day, he was sick. It was really disgusting. Do you know the reason people act weird when they drink too much?

  Bob: You see, alcohol alters your perception of the real world. God, I feel dizzy now. It removes your inhibitions, but also strips away your control. This is why people might fight and argue, usually for stupid things. The decisions they make are usually off ‘cause of the way they perceive reality. So, they’ll take their car and endanger themselves and others. They might do something foolish like sending embarrassing tweets or texts. I’m sure you could come up with tons of example after seeing some people drunk.

  Michael: I have seen a couple of those. I don’t really get why they would drink when that’s the result.

  Bob: Similar to what we mentioned in the marijuana video, there are several reasons teens drink. You can find them in our marijuana video.

  Michael: I’ll look at it. But the toughest part is when someone offers you a beer. I don’t know what to say, I don’t want to look dumb by saying no.

  Bob: Michael, I totally understand. It’s one of the main reasons teens start drinking. A piece of advice, just prepare a good reason so you won’t freeze and won’t look like a fool. Between you and I, if your friend thinks you’re chicken or “not cool” ‘cause you don’t wanna drink, I wouldn’t necessarily call them a good friend.

  Michael: Oh yeah, I never thought of that.

  Bob: Yep, good friends should want the best for you and respect your decisions. By the way, we have a video that addresses the whole subject of peer pressure. It’ll help you out.

  Michael: Thanks, I’ll watch it.

  Bob: I wanna address something very important: the interaction with alcohol and meds. Taking alcohol with meds minimizes the effects of the meds you’re taking. If it’s something important that your body needs, it can have severe consequences. Another thing to note is that mixing alcohol with cocaine creates what’s called “Cocaethylene”. It increases toxicity for the heart, liver, and other major organs.
  It’s very dangerous. Remember that!

  Michael: God, I learned more than I expected.

  Bob: Hey, glad to hear it. The reason why alcohol is not good for you or any teen under 15 is that the organs in your body are not fully formed. That doesn’t mean you should drink if you’re 15 or older. No matter your age, it’s not good for your grades. It’s also important to remember that you can be arrested if you drink in a public area.

  SUPE: Wow Bob, that got really serious! We weren’t supposed to be serious today! Okay guys, should I fire him? What do you think? [laughs] Just kidding, just kidding. Alright, our goal here was to explain what alcohol is and does so you can decide for yourself if it should be part of your future or not. I’m not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t drink alcohol. Just here to give you all the info so you can make an informed decision for yourself. Oh God, I’m late for my outro.

  Hey guys! Phew, just in time. It might have been my turn to get fired! [laughs] I hope you learned something about alcohol and have the tools to make informed decisions. We are honored that you took the time to listen to us. Live a drug-free life!

  Sources: https://greatist.com/play/why-does-alcohol-make-you-drunk
  https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/mental-health
  https://www.healthline.com/health/cocaine-and-alcohol

Test Your Knowledge on Alcohol

• | What is alcohol made of?
    Get Answer Here — 0:57  
• | What is the process that makes people drunk?
    Get Answer Here — 1:07  
• | What happens when you drink and urinate a lot?
    Get Answer Here — 3:01  
• | Explain what happens to your mind when you drink.
    Get Answer Here — 3:41  
• | Why do people act weird when they drink?
    Get Answer Here — 4:17  
• | What should you do if you don’t want to drink and don’t want to look foolish?
    Get Answer Here — 5:25  
• | What happens when you mix alcohol and meds?
    Get Answer Here — 5:56  
• | Why shouldn’t teens drink alcohol?
    Get Answer Here — 6:28  

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