Safer drinking

Alcohol is the most widely used 'drug' in Australia. People drink to relax, celebrate and have fun. Alcohol is part of many social occasions and will probably feature during your schoolies holiday.

Be safe if you drink

If you are drinking alcohol during your schoolies break be sure to do it responsibly:

• Don't mix alcohol with any other drugs, and avoid mixing energy drinks with alcohol
• Drink water while you drink
• Eat before drinking (and while you are drinking) 
• Avoid drinking in rounds or 'shouts'
• Check the label of your drink (if it is premixed) so you know how much alcohol you are drinking - many premixed drinks contain more than one standard drink
• Don't drink 'shots'
• Know your limits - don't try and keep up with everyone else
• Don't top up your drinks - finish one before you get another
• Make sure to pour or get your own drink
• Always use a standard pouring measure (30ml) if you are pouring from a bottle of spirits, and always mix it with soft drink or juice
• Avoid drinking cocktails where you don't know how much or what types of alcohol are in the mix 
• Have a non-alcoholic drink between every alcoholic one
• Be safe at all times and stay with people you know and trust
• Look out for your friends who you think may take a risk that they wouldn't normally take if they were sober
• Don't drink and drive
• Don't drink and then go swimming or undertake any other reckless activity
• Think about the "cringe factor" - will you be embarrassed tomorrow by what you do today?
• Have a few alcohol-free days during your schoolies holiday to give your body proper time to recover

Alcohol and violence

Alcohol also has another kind of nasty side effect for other people when drunken behaviour turns abusive or violent. Our violence page looks at the issue of violence, assault and keeping safe from violent behaviour in more detail.

Useful links

youthcentral - Alcohol
Lots of great information and links related to young people and alcohol, including the issues surrounding alcohol, the effects of alcohol, the violent side of alcohol and legal stuff.

Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation
Find out about the Victorian Liquor Laws and how these affect young people.

Reach Out! - Alcohol
Facts about the effects of alcohol, drinking and operating machinery or driving, safe drinking, definition of a standard drink.

Better Health - Alcohol and teenagers
Information about the health risks associated with alcohol and how parents can encourage the responsible consumption of alcohol.

Drugs and Alcohol in Victoria - Alcohol
Contains alcohol-related information relevant to young people, parents and young adults. Also provides information on counselling and treatment services.

DrugInfo - Alcohol and Drug Info for Young People
Fact sheets for young people on topics such as binge drinking, safe partying and the dangers of mixing medicines and alcohol.

DrugInfo Clearinghouse - Alcohol information
Comprehensive information about alcohol - including research, seminar papers, fact sheets and reading lists.