A: HiI'm Andre
S: And I'm sophie
A: And today we're going to talk about alcohol, and why people drink
A: So Sophie, what reasons do you think why people underage drink
S: Well I know there's a lot of peer pressure, a lot of trying to fit in with people. That's
one of the main reasons I tried to start drinking, because I didn't start drinking until nearly
18, so I was almost at the legal age anyway. But that was because I'm not comfortable with
it. With anxiety, in social situation, it really doesn't work well with me, so then
I would miss out on loads and just feel like I didn't fit in and I wasn't as close to my
friends as all the rest of them were, because, they would come to school the next day and
talk about the party that they had on the weekend and I would be like 'Oh I was at home'
A:To be part of the conversation you had to go out with them?
S: Well you can still have fun if you don't drink. But you could always do stuff with
friends that aren't, doesn't involve alcohol or at night,
A:Yeah that's true
S: Or going out, cus it's not like someone's gonna say no to it reall, like 'oh there's
no alcohol involved I'm not coming'.
A: SO when it comes to alcohol, there are many different tolerance levels, so can you
talk about some of the effects it has on your body and stuff like that. And your mind.
S: I've had my fair share of I've drunk way too much and ended up not remembering a whole
night which is kind of really scary, like I don't like the fact that people have told
me stuff that's happened that I don't even know happened, soI've had just one night where
I can't remember a thing and since then I've just been so careful.
A: If you're not careful when you drink, a lot of things could happen for instance you
could get paralytic, or something like that. Which is quite dangerous.
S: Yeah it's not fun at all, it's not a good side effect of alcohol, whatsoever. But yeah,
and then the next day I've woken up and spent the whole day with my head in the toilet and
it's like it's not fun. It just puts you off drinking a little bit
A: So would you say at first it makes everything seem nicer but the next day it makes things
worse?
S: Yeah. Cus I know when you're drinking you kind of, oh I'm fine I'll just have another
one, I think that just one more could just tip you over the edge.
A: Gotta know your limits and stuff.
S: Yeah.
Cus when I've been at parties and stuff, I;ve definitely seen a few fights go on. I don't
know anyone personally who's like drunk drived or anything like that but people can do stupid
stuff like that just because their mind isn't thinking straight. So they just decide to
risk take and say they can do anything because you kind of feel a little bit numb.
A: yeah you feel invincible sort of
S: yeah
You never know whats gonna happenat that point, especially if you're at a party and you don't
know anyone or you're out clubbing or something, you have to be still quite careful with what's
going on.
A: SO a little bit more about vulnerability: do you think sometimes you gott abe a little
bit more careful because
S: especially if you're in that state someone could easily take advantage of you
A;Ah yeah
S: And then you may not even remember it the next day
A: if you do drink, what are the ways you can make sure that you do stay safe?
S: The first time I ever had a drink I was at my mums best friends sons house so I knew
the house, I knew the people, I knew the parent it was like I felt safe I felt fine and then
when I go out and stuff I always come home in a taxi with about 4 or 5 people, it's always
safe it's never like ohi'm gonna go on my own, I always have to have my phone charged.
Just in case anything ever happens.
A: SO what do you think about people who drink to get away from their problems?
S: Well I've definitely done it. It's definitely not the best way of handling anything, but
it kinda makes you forget for that few hours
A: for young people do you reckon there's any other way they can escape without the
means of alcohol?
S;Well the thing I do is watch tv series. And by watch tv series I mean i watch like
8 seasons in a week or something.
A: Oh! bringe, yeah
S: but it's just a nice way to escape life - just put yourself in someone elses. It's
just something happy and nice to watch and you just get to escape from everything else
A; yea so through that rather than alcohol
S: Yea
A: Right guys don't forget if you are in need of help you can always contact an adult, the
police, or childline.
Alright sophie thanks for coming
s: Thanks for having me
A: It's been really nic ehaving you on the show
S: Thank you
A: thanks for watching guys, we'll see you soon.
S: Bye!
A:Bye.