Consent means everyone involved is able to choose, understand, and agree to what is happening.
Consent must be clear, freely given, and informed.
Alcohol changes how our brains work.
It affects judgement, awareness, memory, and the ability to make safe decisions.
Because of this, someone who is drunk cannot give reliable consent.
Why alcohol affects consent #
Alcohol can:
- Slow down thinking
- Make it hard to understand what’s happening
- Affect balance and coordination
- Blur memory
- Make it hard to say what you want or don’t want
- Make someone more vulnerable to pressure or harm
Consent is only consent when a person can:
- Think clearly
- Understand the situation
- Communicate a clear yes
- Change their mind at any time
If alcohol gets in the way of any of these, consent is not possible.
The safest rule #
People react to alcohol differently.
One person might feel fine after one drink.
Another person might be affected quickly.
Because it’s impossible to know how much alcohol affects someone in that moment, the safest and simplest rule is:
If someone is under the influence of alcohol or drugs in any amount, assume they cannot consent.
This protects everyone.
It keeps sex safe, respectful, and legal.
What this means in real life #
If someone has been drinking
- Do not assume they can make a clear decision
- Do not assume a “yes” is real consent
- Do not rely on body language or mixed signals
- Do not push them, joke about it, or try to convince them
A clear rule to follow:
If they’re not fully sober, the answer has to be no.
If you’ve been drinking
You might think you’re fine, but alcohol may still affect your judgement.
The best thing to do is wait until everyone involved is sober.
What safe, sober consent looks like #
- Everyone knows what’s happening
- Everyone feels comfortable
- Everyone can communicate clearly
- Everyone can say no
- Everyone can stop at any time
If any of these are missing, it’s not consent.
If you’re unsure, stop #
You might feel worried about “ruining the moment”, but stopping is the right thing to do.
If you’re unsure whether alcohol is involved, you can say:
- “Let’s talk about this when we’re both sober.”
- “I like you, but I want us to be safe and clear.”
- “Let’s pause and check in tomorrow.”
Stopping shows care, respect, and maturity.
Looking after each other #
If you’re with friends:
- Walk each other home
- Check in if someone seems uncomfortable
- Stay with them if they’re drunk
- Step in if a situation feels unsafe
Supporting each other helps everyone stay safe.
Key things to remember #
- Consent must be sober, clear, and freely given
- Alcohol makes real consent impossible
- If someone is under the influence at all, assume they cannot consent
- Stopping is the safest thing to do
- Respect, safety, and care come before anything else
You deserve safe, respectful relationships.
You deserve clear consent every time.
