Biology · KS3 Y8 · Health & Disease

Effects of alcohol

Effects of alcoholFree4:53Heddy Score 3 of 7, below the standard
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What you need to know

  • Alcohol (ethanol) is absorbed into the blood from the gut, mainly the small intestine, and food in the stomach slows this down.
  • The liver breaks alcohol down in two enzyme steps, passing through a toxic substance before it becomes harmless.
  • In the brain, alcohol slows nerve signalling, which causes relaxation, sleepiness and, at high doses, dangerous effects on vital functions.
  • Regular heavy drinking can damage the liver and changes the brain, which can lead to dependence.

In this clip

Runs 4:53, from 0:07 to 5:00 of the full video.

Heddy Score3/7, Below the standard
See the seven stars
  • Trusted source · passed. The creator's own upload, live and playable here.
  • On the map · not judged yet. A teacher watched it: it mainly teaches this map topic.
  • Spec-true · not judged yet. Accurate, and right for the current UK specification.
  • Focused · passed. One idea, short enough to watch in one go.
  • Accessible · passed. Good captions, clear sound and pictures.
  • Safe for children · not judged yet. Right for 11 to 16 year olds, with no sales pitch.
  • Proven · not judged yet. Earned from our students: they learn from it, find it helpful and watch it to the end.
★ passed · ☆ pending · ✕ failed
Our students

Not enough students yet

Our own students' answers. These are what move ★7 Proven.
On YouTube

10M views · 193K likes · TED-Ed 23M subscribers

As reported by YouTube on 2026-11-02. Not part of the Heddy Score.
How the Heddy Score works

Why we picked it

A short, accurate animation following alcohol through the body to the liver and brain, ideal for naming organs harmed and short-term effects.

TED-Ed on YouTubechecked 2026-10-22

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