Alcohol poisoning: symptoms, what to do and how long it lasts

The NHS says symptoms start after drinking a lot of alcohol. Drinkaware adds that someone may have had only a few drinks, or several, but this alone is not a reliable indicator of likely alcohol poisoning, and that if someone has alcohol poisoning they will not be able to help themselves.

• Confusion.

• Slurring words or being unable to speak.

• Being unable to coordinate movement, for example to stand, walk or pick things up.

• Being sick.

• Peeing or pooing yourself (loss of bladder or bowel control).

• Pale or blue-tinged skin; on black or brown skin this may be easier to see inside the lips, on the gums and under the fingernails.

• Slow or irregular breathing.

• Having a seizure or fit.

• Loss of consciousness, or being conscious but unresponsive.

The NHS says to call 999 if you think someone has alcohol poisoning, if someone has had a seizure or fit, has lost consciousness or has stopped breathing. Do not drive yourself to A&E; the person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do. Drinkaware says that if you think someone might be experiencing alcohol poisoning, even if you have doubts, place them on their side in the recovery position and call 999 for an ambulance.

While you wait for help, the NHS and Drinkaware describe what to do and what to avoid.

The NHS says alcohol poisoning is usually caused by binge drinking, which is where you have a lot of alcohol in one drinking session. It can happen when you drink alcohol faster than your body can filter it out of your blood. Having too much alcohol in your blood stops your body working properly and can be life-threatening. Alcohol affects people differently.

Drinkaware says the amount that can cause alcohol poisoning depends on a person's age, sex, size, weight, how fast they have been drinking, how much they have eaten, their general health, and whether they have taken medication or drugs. It says women tend to have higher blood alcohol levels after drinking the same amount as men, so may be at greater risk, and that there is no minimum amount of alcohol that could cause alcohol poisoning.

There is no fixed time. The NHS says that if you have alcohol poisoning you will need to go to hospital to be monitored, and you may be given help with your breathing until the effects of the alcohol wear off.

The NHS alcohol units page says one unit of alcohol equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol, around the amount the average adult can process in an hour, so that within an hour there should in theory be little or no alcohol left in the blood for one unit, although this varies from person to person. Drinkaware says the amount of alcohol in the blood continues to rise even after someone has stopped drinking, because the digestive system carries on absorbing alcohol into the bloodstream.

Eating a meal beforehand can slow down absorption, Drinkaware says, but it does not make it safe to drink a lot.

The NHS says you will need to go to hospital to be monitored if you have alcohol poisoning, because it can cause serious complications, such as liver and heart failure, which can be fatal. You may be given fluids, which may be given into your veins with a drip, and you may be given help with your breathing until the effects of the alcohol wear off.

Drinkaware says alcohol poisoning can reduce body temperature, risking hypothermia, cause vomiting with a risk of choking, lead to a heart attack or a fit, or cause you to stop breathing. It can also lower blood sugar levels, risking fits or brain damage, and dehydrate the body.

Drinkaware lists the effects of drinking a lot in a short space of time. These explain why the signs of alcohol poisoning include confusion, poor coordination, vomiting and breathing problems, and why the situation can change quickly.

• It slows down brain functions and stops your sense of balance working properly.

• It irritates your stomach, which can cause vomiting.

• It can dangerously affect the body's systems that control breathing and heartbeat.

• It dehydrates your body, which risks brain damage in severe cases.

• It lowers your body temperature, which can lead to hypothermia.

• It lowers your blood sugar levels, risking fits or brain damage.

The NHS says binge drinking means drinking more than 8 units of alcohol in a single session for men, or more than 6 units for women. To reduce health risks on a single occasion, it advises limiting how much you drink, drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating alcoholic drinks with water or non-alcoholic drinks. It also advises low-risk drinkers not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis, spread over 3 or more days.

Drinkaware suggests setting a limit, eating a meal, alternating drinks, having a plan to get home and sticking with friends, and that it is okay to ask if friends are okay. If you are pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the NHS says the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all.

The NHS says a good place to start if you are worried about your own drinking is a GP, and that they may suggest assessment and support from local community alcohol services. If you have become physically dependent and need to stop drinking completely, stopping overnight could be harmful, so get advice first. The NHS says to call 999 for severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations, severe tremors, seizures or fits.

The NHS lists support such as Drinkline, the national alcohol helpline, Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and groups such as SMART Recovery.

Alcohol poisoning is an emergency and is managed through 999 and NHS emergency departments. There is no safe alternative route for a person who is unconscious, vomiting repeatedly or breathing slowly, whether or not they have private health cover.

For help with alcohol use afterwards, you can start with a GP or a local community alcohol service. Some people choose a private clinic or counsellor. If you do, tell your GP so that your records and any medicines stay coordinated.