Defining drunk
Question
What is the actual definition of drunk?
Answer
This is quite an interesting question, and not as easy to answer as you might think. In general, drunk means that your body is intoxicated by alcohol. This intoxication affects your mental and physical abilities.
Alcohol is a depressant, slowing down the body's normal functions. So being drunk means that someone has consumed enough alcohol to cause the functions of the body to slow down. This can result in a variety of physical experiences including:
- Not being able to walk or see straight;
- Reduced speed of thought;
- The lowering of inhibitions.
There has been research into whether people can be fooled into thinking they are drunk. The research has shown that if people believe that they are drinking a lot of alcohol then they will begin to act as if they are drunk, raising the question: how much drunken behaviour is actually a result of the alcohol or the mind?
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else's drinking, you can contact Frank on 0800 776600 for free, confidential advice and information about drugs and alcohol.
Good answer? Bad info? Want to tell us what you think? We'd really like to hear what you've got to say about this answer so please click here to take the survey. Your feedback is confidential and as anonymous as you like.
