Binge Drinking
The dangers of binge drinking in Magaluf
Magaluf is one of the most popular holiday destinations and party towns in Europe, and this little piece of paradise in Mallorca offers visitors and clubbers a fantastic choice of places to visit during the summer months, including some of the best clubs, bars and restaurants in Mallorca.
Holidays are for having fun, and it´s not unusual to be out partying until the early hours during the summer in Magaluf, enjoying one of the many fantastic clubs, or chilling out in a music bar or restaurant, and making the most of the warm nights and the cold beer. Binge drinking on holiday, however can have devastating effects and not only ruin your holiday, but it can ruin your life.
Binge drinking causes massive health problems
Binge drinking has received so much bad press in the UK and the rest of Europe during the past 12 months, that most people are aware of the dangers of drinking massive amounts of alcohol over a short period of time, but for those of you who haven´t got the message, some of the dangers of binge drinking on holiday, where you are completely out of your comfort zone, can increase the risk of accident and cause massive health problems.
Most people are used to socialising over a few drinks, or a bottle of wine with a meal, but the trend has developed where a few drinks turns into more and more, and holidaymakers who drink themselves into oblivion completely disregard the risks and dangers to themselves and others. It was widely assumed years ago that liver disease and serious alcohol-related illnesses only affected middle-aged people, but it has now been proven that binge drinking is causing cirrhosis of the liver among record numbers of young people in Europe.
Binge drinking causes brain damage
Latest research suggests that binge drinking also causes rapid damage to the brain and effects can be seen in a relatively short space of time. Binge drinking on holiday is particularly dangerous as you are likely to be surrounded by groups of strangers who may try to befriend you when you are ´off your face´ for a variety of reasons – and not all of them are good. It is also believed that early binge drinking is a foundation for alcohol addiction.
It is quite likely that the majority of holidaymakers in Magaluf will drink more than the recommended amounts of alcohol over the period of 7 or 14 days in the resort, but binge drinking every night until the early hours can cause serious illness and even death, when drinkers choke on their own vomit.
Alcohol is firmly rooted as part of our leisure culture, and although it is difficult to educate people about the dangers of something that is so readily available, it is worth considering the consequences of binge drinking on holiday before you order another round.
The unglamorous side of binge drinking
The unglamorous side of binge drinking can result in the person waking up in their own vomit, suffering a banging headache and being unable to remember how they got home. Excessive alcohol consumption impairs judgement, causes confusion and often results in the the binge drinker being unable to walk properly, which can cause accidents and fights. A lack of inhibition can also result in unprotected sex with strangers, which are not only dangerous but could leave you with a sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy.
Apart from the dangers to health from binge drinking, holidaymakers and clubbers, particularly girls, open themselves up to all sorts of danger on the streets when they are drunk. Due to extreme inebriation, they may not be able to find their way back to their hotel, they may accept lifts with strangers without realising the dangers, and they may run the risk of sexual assault and abuse if they are left to fend for themselves.
Spiked drinks and date rape drugs
Drinks’ being spiked in clubs is not a new phenomenon, but it is becoming more common in clubs throughout Europe, so always take extra care when out partying.
The drug Rohypnol is one of the most common date rate drugs. It is a powerful sedative which is normally prescribed as a sleeping pill. The drug is often put into the drinks of unsuspecting females, who are later assaulted and raped when under the influence. A perpetrator laces a victim´s drink with a tablet of Rohypnol, which lacks colour, odour and taste and dissolves quickly, and a victim can ingest it without knowing.
The initial effects of Rohypnol appear just 15-30 minutes after intake and include impaired memory and judgement, drowsiness, loss of movement, dizziness and confusion. The victim may feel very intoxicated. The victim will eventually lose consciousness and become vulnerable to attack. The effects reach their peak within 2 hours or sooner and can continue for up to 10 hours. When combined with other drugs and/or alcohol, the effects can persist for 24 hours. High doses of Rohypnol can cause amnesia, and the sedative effects of the drug are 7-10 times greater than that of Valium.
Rohypnol is the drug of choice for would-be rapists so always watch your drink and never go clubbing alone.
We want everyone to have a good holiday in Magaluf and Palmanova, so take care and think twice! Rather be safe then sorry!
