
Alcohol poisoning
Mate waipiro
Alcohol poisoning happens when someone has drunk a dangerous amount of alcohol, usually over a short period of time. Alcohol poisoning is serious and can sometimes be fatal.
If you think someone has alcohol poisoning, phone 111 and ask for an ambulance.
How to tell if someone has alcohol poisoning
If someone has alcohol poisoning, they may:
- smell strongly of alcohol
- have very slurred speech
- be confused
- be awake but not responsive
- pass out and be unable to wake up
- have a flushed red face
- vomit
- have seizures
- be uncoordinated
- be breathing slowly, deeply, and noisily.
Helping someone who has alcohol poisoning
- Phone 111 for an ambulance.
- Stay calm and reassure them.
- Do not let them drink any more alcohol.
- Check for signs of injury.
- Keep them warm.
- Stay with them.
- Try to keep them awake and sitting up.
- Give them water to drink.
- Keep an eye on their breathing.
- If they aren't conscious but breathing, follow the advice in Unconscious but breathing, including lying them on their side in the recovery position.
- If they aren't breathing, start CPR.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2022.
Sources
The information in this section comes from the following sources, some of which may be clinically complex or not available to the general public
NHS – Alcohol poisoning. Retrieved June 2019.
St John Ambulance UK – Alcohol poisoning, retrieved June 2019.
Image and embedded video sources
Collapsed person image from Shutterstock (image ID 369499367). July 2016.
Page reference: 284542
Review key: HIFAD-141030