Tolerance and dependence
Anyone can develop a ‘tolerance’ to alcohol.
Tolerance means that you must drink more to feel the same effects you used to have with lower amounts. ‘Dependence’ on alcohol means that it takes up much of your thoughts, emotions and activities. Not all people who drink are dependent.
Dependent people find it very difficult to stop or reduce drinking.

This is because of withdrawal symptoms, which can include:
• anxiety
• sweating
• shaking
• vomiting
• fits
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things).

Women and alcohol
Doctors suggest that women should drink less than men. This is because women’s body tissue absorbs a higher concentration of alcohol than men’s.

Women often:
• get drunk more quickly than men
• recover from drinking more slowly than men
• go over the legal driving limit more quickly than men.

Alcohol and pregnancy
Regular drinking of alcohol during pregnancy can cause problems for the mother and the baby.

Drinking a lot can lead to losing the baby before it is born or the baby being born with foetal alcohol syndrome (slow growth before and after birth, and mental disabilities). Doctors recommend that pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should not drink alcohol at all.

Standard drinks
A ‘standard drink’ is the measure of alcohol used to work out safe drinking levels.
All the following drinks (common servings in NSW) are different sizes but each has about 10 grams of alcohol. The drinks are different sizes because some are stronger (have more alcohol) than others.
Each is one standard drink.

Guidelines for low-risk drinking

Consuming alcohol at the risk levels shown in the table below, is not recommended for people who:
• have a condition made worse by drinking
• are on medication
• are under 18 years of age
• are pregnant
• are about to engage in activities involving risk or a degree of skill (eg driving, flying, water sports, skiing, operating machinery).