Say "no" to tobacco and alcohol
Tobacco contains nicotine, an addictive chemical: once a person starts smoking, it is very hard to stop. Smoking can:
- damage your lungs and heart
- cause many types of cancer
Breathing other people's smoke is dangerous too: it is called second-hand smoke. Chewing tobacco is just as addictive and can cause mouth cancer.
Alcohol is only for adults aged 18 and over. It changes how we think, speak and act with other people. It can:
- damage the liver
- make you feel dizzy and sick
- affect your vision and balance
- make you lose control of your behaviour
Peer pressure is when friends or people your age push you to do something you don't want to do. If someone offers you tobacco or alcohol, you can always refuse: just say "No, thanks!" Drink water, milk or juice instead. We need about eight glasses of water a day.
In groups, try three tests: throw a ball to a friend, write a sentence on the board, and walk along a straight line of tape on the floor. Count how well you do. Then spin around 15 times (carefully, with an adult!) and try again. Spinning makes you dizzy, a bit like alcohol does: it affects your vision and balance.
