Signs of alcohol poisoning: when to call 000
Alcohol poisoning is a life-threatening medical emergency — not just a bad night. If someone who has been drinking is confused, vomiting, breathing slowly or can't be woken, call 000 straight away. This guide covers the warning signs and exactly what to do while you wait for help.
What is alcohol poisoning?
Alcohol is a depressant. In small amounts it slows you down a little; in large amounts it can suppress the parts of the brain that keep you alive — the areas that control breathing, heart rate and body temperature. When someone drinks a lot of alcohol quickly, their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) can climb high enough to shut these functions down. That's alcohol poisoning, and it can be fatal.
A crucial and dangerous detail: BAC keeps rising for a while after the last drink. Alcohol sitting in the stomach and small intestine is still being absorbed, so a person can actually get worse after they've stopped drinking — or after they've passed out. This is exactly why "leave them to sleep it off" is such a risky mistake.
Warning signs — call 000 if you see any of these
According to Victoria's Better Health Channel, the signs of an alcohol poisoning emergency in someone who has been drinking are:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Vomiting (especially while drowsy or unconscious)
- Seizures
- Slow breathing — fewer than eight breaths a minute — or irregular breathing, with gaps of more than 10 seconds between breaths
- Blue-tinged or pale skin
- Cold, clammy skin or a low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Difficulty staying conscious
- Passing out and being unable to be woken
You do not need to see all of these. Even one is enough. And if you simply suspect alcohol poisoning — even without obvious signs — seek immediate medical help.
Drunk, or alcohol poisoning? How to tell the difference
Being drunk and having alcohol poisoning sit on the same spectrum, but they call for very different responses. Someone who is drunk but safe can usually be roused, is breathing normally and can hold a (slurred) conversation. Someone with alcohol poisoning cannot.
| Very drunk (monitor) | Alcohol poisoning (call 000) |
|---|---|
| Slurred speech, unsteady | Can't stand, speak or respond |
| Rousable — responds when spoken to or shaken | Won't wake up, or only briefly |
| Breathing normally | Slow (under 8/min) or irregular breathing |
| Normal skin colour and warmth | Pale, blue-tinged, cold or clammy skin |
| Alert enough to sit and sip water | Confused, vomiting, or having seizures |
If you're unsure which side of the line someone is on, treat it as the more serious one. It is always better to call an ambulance you didn't strictly need than to miss one you did.
What to do while you wait for the ambulance
Once you've called 000, a few simple steps can keep the person as safe as possible until paramedics arrive. Australia's healthdirect service advises the following for someone who has swallowed too much of a harmful substance, including alcohol:
- Stay with them. Never leave an unconscious or heavily intoxicated person alone, even for a few minutes.
- Roll them onto their side. If they're unconscious but breathing, the recovery position (on their side, head tilted slightly back) helps stop them choking if they vomit.
- Keep them warm. Alcohol lowers body temperature, so cover them with a blanket or jacket.
- Monitor their breathing. If it becomes slow, irregular or stops, tell the 000 operator — and if they stop breathing, start CPR.
- Don't make them vomit. Forcing vomiting can cause choking and does nothing to remove alcohol already in the bloodstream.
Myths that can cost a life
None of the "sobering up" tricks you may have heard do anything to reverse alcohol poisoning. The only thing that lowers BAC is time, and time is exactly what a poisoned person may not have.
- "Let them sleep it off." The most dangerous myth of all. Because BAC can keep rising after the last drink, someone who seems merely asleep can slip into unconsciousness — and choke on their own vomit or stop breathing.
- "Give them a coffee." Caffeine may mask drowsiness but doesn't lower BAC or reverse the effects. A more alert poisoned person is still a poisoned person.
- "Walk it off / cold shower." Movement and cold water do nothing to the alcohol in the blood, and a cold shower can worsen the drop in body temperature.
- "Make them throw up." Vomiting only clears alcohol still in the stomach, and risks choking if they're not fully conscious.
If you want to understand why time is the only real cure, our guide on how long until your BAC is zero walks through how the body clears alcohol at a fixed rate.
How to lower the risk in the first place
Alcohol poisoning is almost always the result of drinking a lot in a short space of time. The same habits that make for a better night also make poisoning far less likely:
- Pace yourself — aim for around one standard drink an hour, which is roughly the rate your body can clear it.
- Eat before and while you drink — food slows absorption and lowers your peak BAC. See why drinking on an empty stomach hits harder.
- Alternate with water — one glass of water between drinks slows you down and keeps you hydrated.
- Know the guidelines — the Australian alcohol guidelines recommend no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 on any one day.
- Look out for your mates — keep an eye on anyone drinking fast or doing shots, and check on anyone who's gone quiet or gone to lie down.
Skulling, drinking games and rounds of shots are the classic culprits because they push a large amount of alcohol into the body before its effects are even felt. Tracking your drinks as the night goes on makes it much easier to notice when you — or a friend — are heading past a safe pace.
Frequently asked questions
What are the signs of alcohol poisoning?
Confusion, vomiting, seizures, slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths a minute) or irregular breathing, pale or blue-tinged skin, low body temperature, difficulty staying conscious, and passing out and being unable to be woken. Any single one is a reason to call 000.
What's the difference between being drunk and alcohol poisoning?
A drunk person is still rousable and breathing normally. Alcohol poisoning is when BAC rises high enough to suppress breathing, heart rate and temperature — the person can't be woken, is breathing abnormally, or has cold or blue-tinged skin. That's a medical emergency.
Can you sleep off alcohol poisoning?
No. BAC can keep climbing after the last drink, so someone can get worse while "asleep". Never leave a heavily intoxicated person to sleep it off alone. If they can't be woken, call 000.
Can you die from alcohol poisoning?
Yes. Alcohol poisoning can stop a person breathing, cause them to choke on vomit, or trigger dangerous drops in body temperature and blood sugar. Prompt medical care saves lives — which is why calling 000 early matters so much.
This article is general information, not medical advice. In an emergency, always call 000. For 24-hour health advice, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). Sources: Better Health Channel, healthdirect, NHMRC alcohol guidelines, Alcohol and Drug Foundation.