by Becky Risley
Ever woken up after a night out and can’t remember parts of the night? Or maybe you’ve had nights where whole chunks of time are missing? Sometimes we make light of these experiences or pass them off as joke, but they can be really worrying.
So how much are students actually drinking and is it really a problem?
According to NUS SOS UK national data, 84% agreed that drinking too much too quickly can cut short a great night with 79% say they don’t like socialising with people who get very drunk and ruin the night for others.
Despite this however, 51% of those that were asked said that getting drunk means they will have a good night out and 38% say it can be difficult not to drink too much on a night out.
But what is an alcohol related blackout? And why
Alcohol-related blackouts are when you can’t remember things that happened while you were drunk. This happens because drinking too much alcohol can temporarily mess up the process of moving memories from short-term to long-term storage in your brain, specifically in the hippocampus.
There are two types of blackouts, based on how much memory is lost:
Fragmentary Blackout: This is the most common type. You might have patchy memories of events, with some parts missing. This is also called a grayout or brownout.
En Bloc Blackout: This is more severe. You can’t remember anything often for hours. The memories never form, so you can’t get them back.
When do blackouts happen?
Blackouts often result from binge drinking, which is can roughly be counted as 4 drinks for women and 5 for men within 2 hours. Science suggests blackouts usually start when your blood alcohol content hits about 0.16 percent, nearly twice the legal driving limit. At this level, your judgment and decision-making are seriously impaired, making blackouts really dangerous.
They’re more likely when alcohol enters your bloodstream quickly, like drinking on an empty stomach or consuming a lot fast. Women reach higher blood alcohol content levels faster than men, making them more prone to blackouts.
Blackouts can also occur at lower levels if you mix alcohol with other substances especially benzodiazepines.
My friend drank the same amount as me and remembers everything, why is that?
Our genetics play a big role on the likelihood of blacking out, some people are just more prone to it happening than others and everyone threshold for blackouts will be different.
Are there any long-term effects from having blackouts?
Other than the anxiety of not knowing what went on in those lost hours, research suggests that those who experience blackouts have a greater likelihood of having a dependency on alcohol late on in life. So, if you are finding you are regularly blacking out seeking support is recommended.
How can I avoid blacking out when drinking?
- Start Low Go Slow: drink slowly, avoid consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short period. This helps keep your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) from rising too quickly. Choosing lower alcohol drinks, such as lager tops, single spirits with lots of mixer or wine spritzers can help us pace ourselves.
- Eating is never cheating: having food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, which can help prevent blackouts – simple as that! Eating before, during and after alcohol is always a good idea!
- Drink water: stay hydrated and reduce the overall amount of alcohol you consume by switching out every other drink for a glass of water.
- Just Say Know…your limits: everyone’s tolerance is different so it can be helpful to set yourself a limit of drinks/units before you go out for the night. Using app’s like the drink coach can help us keep track of how many drinks we have consumed.
- Leave the mixing to the DJ: combining alcohol with other substances, can increase the risk of blackouts.
- Buddy up: going out with friends who will support you to drink in a controlled way can make a big difference, make a plan and support each other to stick to it.
If you have more questions, need support or want to make a change to your alcohol use, just get in touch with me!
You can find out more about me and the UWE drug and alcohol service on our drugs and alcohol webpage.