NTU > Student Services > Health & wellbeing > Stay healthy > Alcohol and drugs

Student Services House icon

Alcohol and drugs

Stay healthy

Drink aware

We want our students to be well-informed, healthy and safe when it comes to alcohol. It is recommended that men drink no more than three units per day and women should drink no more than two units. One unit of alcohol is equivalent to one small glass of wine, half a bottle of alcopop or half a pint of beer. It takes your liver one hour to process each unit.

A small glass of wine (9% ABV) = one unit
A pub measure of spirits (25ml) = one unit
A bottle of alcopop (275ml at 5% ABV) = 1.4 units
A pint of ordinary strength lager/beer (3.5% ABV) = two units
A pint of premium lager (5% ABV) = three units

Tips for safe drinking on a night out:

Pace your alcoholic drinks and have a soft drink or water between them.
Eat before you drink.
Know your limits.
Keep an eye out for your mates.
For further information visit the Drink Aware website.

Watch your drink on a night out

Sometimes taking drugs is not a choice. Drink spiking can happen, but some basic precautions can prevent it happening to you:

Don't leave your drink unattended.
Never accept a drink from someone you don't know or trust.
Cover the tops of bottles with your thumb.
If you think you have been spiked, seek help straight away and get medical assistance as soon as possible. Drink spiking is a serious crime, report it to the police as soon as possible.

If you're worried about your drinking, you can get practical and confidential advice from Last Orders specialist alcohol service, telephone 0115 970 9590.

Be smoke free

There are many benefits to not smoking. NTU has a no smoking policy to create a healthier environment in which to work and study. This includes all University buildings and residential accommodation. A recent survey revealed that over two thirds of NTU students who smoked would like to give up. For information on giving up smoking visit the NHS smokefree website.

Drugs

The area of drug and substance use is full of myth and misinformation. It's a good idea to learn the facts about drugs and the possible short and long term affects they can have as well as legal implications. Visit the Talk to Frank website to find out the facts.

If you're worried about your recreational drug use or would like to know more, you can get free and confidential advice and information from Chill Out Sound Support.