Alcohol - Choices for Handling it (1976)

[Music] [Music] okay that's about right to begin with you should not hey hey hey hey wait a minute wait wait a minute hey what are you doing I have to give a demonstration of how to drink yeah I heard but why tell people how to drink doesn't that imply that they should well I don't mean to it's just that well drinking is pretty much a part of our way of life all you have to do is look [Music] around [Music] okay so Americans drink but even those who do sometimes have mixed feelings about the subject and that's why it's so difficult to decide whether or not to drink now look can we agree on one point whatever the decision it should be made by the individual influenced only by his or her personal feelings and beliefs agreed we're in business um did you want something else oh no nothing nothing else aren't you leaving oh no no no go right ahead don't mind me to begin with alcohol about that sign what sign that how to drink thing I'm I mean what's the point look it's simple alcohol is strong stuff technically speaking it's a drug a depress that affects the behavior of the drinker so if you're going to drink you darn well better know how to handle it better better many thanks and now if you approve I'm going to offer some introductory information about alcoholic beverages alcoholic beverages fall into three broad categories beer wine and what is referred to as hard liquor beer and wine usually contain less alcohol than the hard Liquors but they still can be potent they still can make you drunk hard Liquors come in a variety of names Scotch Rye Brandy Jin vodka bourbon to name the most common there strength is determined by alcoholic content alone and not by appearance or even taste some for example are colorless and innocent looking but what looks like plain water may be vodka or Jin when served mixed they may look pretty and taste as sweet and innocent but the alcoholic content is always there interesting it's a good start but you need more information on the effect of alcohol on the Drinker oh that's not so simple don't sounds simple enough only theoretically I mean it's true that basically the effect is determined by how much alcohol is consumed in a given amount of time but there are other complications for example drinking on an empty stomach allows the alcohol to get into the bloodstream more quickly so the effect will be felt more quickly body weight is another complicating factor a few ounces of alcohol may have much less effect when absorbed into a large body than into a small one alcohol can also hit you harder if you're ill or tired or run down okay so you have size General physical condition whether or not your stomach is full now those are all simple enough to consider aren't they yes but it's still not so simple sometimes individual reactions break all the logical rules so so how do you determine your own limits by drinking slowly enough to begin noticing the effects of the alcohol before you've had too much for example consider three shots of hard liquor now each glass is pretty small so it's no big deal to down them one after the other in a short [Music] time [Music] but that means that they're being consumed before their effects are felt then suddenly whammo you may be drunk or even [Music] sick but suppose we take the same amount of alcohol and mix it with water or a soft drink or fruit juice that gives you a better chance to consume it slowly a sip at a time in no rush at all it isn't hard to take a half an hour or even more to empty just a first class by the time you get to the second drink you're already feeling the effect of the first but you're still in control you're capable of making the decision to go no farther if that's what you [Music] want and if there is a second drink or a third one you're in control all the way if you take it slow see what I mean you've handled drinking well that's okay as far as it goes but what if everybody else is still drinking and they pressure you to keep up with them you always have a choice you can always say no well some sometimes you can't you could kill your social life or lose friendships a social life and friends that demand heavy drinking may not be the best kind to have actually I agree with you I'm just feeding a straight line so you can make your point well anyway as we agreed earlier every individual must make his or her own decision about drinking you might say there's a choice of three categories category one The non-drinkers Who avoid anything alcoholic category two those who use alcohol but with intelligence and control above all they know when to stop category three would be the abuser of alcohol the heavy drinker the uncontrolled Drinker the AL alcoholic you mean the poor soul who winds up on Skid Row not necessarily alcoholics come in all sizes and shapes in all walks of life they drink because they can't help themselves for escape because they can't face life they don't always end up in the gutter or jail or a mental ward but very few manage to avoid the accidents the broken careers the ruined marriages and families that are the alcoholic standard payoff don't want to see us anymore because we don't do much and the house isn't really kept very well and I thought you know maybe you thought maybe you'd stop drinking a little bit sounds sort of grim hopeless hopeless no not hopeless not if the alcoholic gets help from where lots of places there are many organizations around that will help and some just for young people with drinking problems well how do you find them phone book ask a doctor ask a teacher ask a parent ask an uncle just ask helps around if you ask for it okay how many uh times has been really bad this week huh no no come on now it's been bad this week you I know it's been bad you've got to admit it's been bad to yourself before you know that you're actually going to solve the problem right huh yeah because every time you ignore that time every time you just pass over that time when you you really want that drink you're not facing the problem that that particular time and it's a stepbystep process you've got to know it each time look it Square in the eye and decide I'm not going to have a drink right now don't worry about the next year the next month look do it each moment you want that drink what do you think about that do you look at uh do you look at it each time when you're when you want that drink can you can you actually say no to that drink or you have dreams what about it huh you almost finished time's running out just about I only wanted to throw in three more points don't think that coffee can sober you up if you've put away too much alcohol it may help you keep awake but that's all never repeat never mix alcohol and medicines or or drugs of any kind that's a deadly combination and know your own limits know when to stop and that's it well well what well what' you think how'd you like the presentation my opinion isn't important well then whose is [Music] be's [Music]