The Harms of Tobacco and Alcohol and Refusal Skills
FoundationNicotine in tobacco is addictive, tar damages the lungs and carbon monoxide starves the body of oxygen; alcohol harms the liver and the brain and clouds judgement. Facing peer pressure, we refuse firmly — say no, give our reasons and leave the scene — to protect our health.
- Cigarette smoke brings addictive nicotine, lung-damaging tar and carbon monoxide that starves the body of oxygen.
- Second-hand smoke harms family and friends too, children most of all.
- Alcohol damages the liver and brain and clouds judgement; the law forbids selling alcohol to minors.
文體小知識：健康教育說明文先講清危害的來源和原理，再教人具體的應對方法，令我們懂得保護自己。
§Text Passage
1A burning cigarette releases more than seven thousand chemicals, and three do the greatest harm. Nicotine is addictive — the body soon depends on it, and without it the smoker feels restless and irritable. Tar sticks to the lungs and turns them black, greatly raising the risk of lung cancer and chronic bronchitis over time. Carbon monoxide takes the places on red blood cells where oxygen should be carried, starving the body of oxygen. The second-hand smoke a smoker breathes out also harms the lungs and hearts of family members nearby.
2Alcohol harms the body just as deeply. The liver can break down only a limited amount of alcohol per hour; drinking heavily over the years builds up fatty liver and even cirrhosis. Alcohol also affects the brain, slowing reactions and clouding judgement, which is why drunk driving so easily causes accidents. The bodies of children and teenagers are still developing, so alcohol affects their brain development more than an adult's. Hong Kong law forbids selling alcohol to minors precisely to protect us.
3When young people meet tobacco and alcohol, it is often not curiosity but peer pressure. At a gathering someone offers a cigarette saying 'just one puff', or pushes a drink over saying 'a real friend would dare' — such words use friendship as a threat. True friends respect your choice; hurting your body to fit in costs far more than it gains.
4Refusal is a skill that grows with practice. First, look at the person and say no with firm eyes and a firm voice. Second, give your reason — for example, 'I'm underage; alcohol harms my health and it's against the law.' Third, suggest another activity: 'Let's play ball instead.' Fourth, if they keep pressing, leave the scene at once. Fifth, tell your parents or teacher afterwards. Remember: refusing firmly does not spoil the fun — it shows you value yourself and your friends.
1Summary 重點摘要
Nicotine in tobacco is addictive, tar damages the lungs and carbon monoxide starves the body of oxygen; alcohol harms the liver and the brain and clouds judgement. Facing peer pressure, we refuse firmly — say no, give our reasons and leave the scene — to protect our health.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The addictive chemical in tobacco that makes smokers dependent and hard to quit.
The sticky substance made by burning tobacco; it coats and blackens the lungs and raises the risk of cancer.
The poisonous gas in cigarette smoke that takes oxygen's place on red blood cells, starving the body of oxygen.
The smoke breathed out by smokers or given off by burning cigarettes, harming the health of those who breathe it in.
When the body depends on a substance and feels unwell without it.
A disease in which the liver hardens and loses function after long-term damage; heavy drinking over many years is one cause.
Influence from friends or classmates that pushes us to do things we would rather not do, in order to fit in.
Ways of saying no firmly and politely, such as giving reasons, offering alternatives and leaving the scene.
The substance in alcoholic drinks that harms the liver and brain and clouds judgement.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know tobacco's three great harmsExample: burning one cigarette releases more than seven thousand chemicals. Nicotine causes addiction, tar blackens the lungs and makes them lose their springiness, and carbon monoxide takes over the oxygen-carrying spots on red blood cells. The three attack the respiratory and circulatory systems together, so long-term smokers cough and become short of breath easily, and their chances of lung disease and heart disease rise sharply. Tests often ask how the three differ: nicotine causes addiction, tar damages the lungs, and carbon monoxide steals oxygen — do not mix them up. Health warnings on cigarette packets are a common measure to remind the public.
- Step 2: See how addiction formsExample: a first-time smoker may feel 'refreshed', but that is only nicotine briefly stimulating the brain. The body soon depends on nicotine; without it the smoker feels irritable, restless and unable to concentrate, so he smokes more and more, and quitting becomes very hard. Once we understand how addiction forms, we know the smartest choice is never to try the first puff at all, instead of struggling to quit later. Some believe an occasional cigarette is harmless, but addiction often starts from the very first one; the claim that 'a little smoking cannot cause addiction' is wrong.
- Step 3: Learn how alcohol affects the liver and brainExample: the liver can break down only a small amount of alcohol each hour; years of heavy drinking first bring a fatty liver and, in serious cases, cirrhosis, which weakens the body's ability to remove poisons. Alcohol also slows the brain: a drunk person reacts slowly, judges badly and speaks unclearly, so drunk driving often ends in accidents. Because children's brains are still developing, alcohol harms them even more than adults. Tests often follow the chain of cause and effect: alcohol first slows reactions, then impairs judgement, and finally endangers both the drinker and others; this is why the law forbids drunk driving and restricts the sale of alcohol to minors.
- Step 4: Know the harm of second-hand smokeExample: when Dad smokes in the living room, the smoke cannot escape and the whole family is forced to breathe it in. Young brothers and sisters have delicate airways, so they cough and develop bronchitis or asthma more easily. Second-hand smoke also contains tar and carbon monoxide, so even non-smokers are harmed. We should urge smoking family members to quit, or at least ask them to smoke outdoors far from the family, protecting everyone's health. Besides second-hand smoke, third-hand smoke left on clothes and furniture is also harmful; babies and toddlers may touch it and put their hands in their mouths, taking in the toxins.
- Step 5: Spot the words of peer pressureExample: phrases like 'just try one puff' or 'a real friend would dare' actually use friendship as a threat, pressuring people with shame. When we hear such words, we should remind ourselves that this is peer pressure talking, not true friendship. A friend who genuinely respects you would never force you to harm your body; trading health for fitting in costs far too much. The key is to prepare a refusal sentence in advance, delivered firmly but without anger; reporting the incident afterwards to a trusted adult is not tattling but protecting yourself and your classmates.
- Step 6: Rehearse the five refusal movesExample: move one — look at the person and say 'I don't smoke' with firm eyes and a firm voice; move two — give the reason 'it harms the body'; move three — suggest 'let's go play ball instead' to change the topic; move four — leave the scene at once if they keep pressing; move five — tell your parents or teacher afterwards. Rehearsing at home a few times means we will not be too nervous to speak when it really happens. During rehearsal, ask family members to play the persuader and take turns trying the five moves; keep the voice clear and the eyes on the person, because a hesitant smile makes them think there is a chance.
- Step 7: Be the first keeper of your own healthExample: explain the harms of smoking and drinking to classmates at break; if someone offers cigarettes, remind everyone and tell the teacher, so the whole class stays away from tobacco and alcohol. Protecting health is not only a personal matter but also a duty to family and classmates. As the knowledge spreads and one person reminds another, the voice of refusal grows louder and temptation finds it harder to succeed. Health ambassadors at school and poster designs in General Studies lessons are good channels for spreading this knowledge; the information must come from reliable sources such as the Department of Health's leaflets.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Example: after school, Wah and his classmates are playing in a park when one pulls out a bottle of alcohol and says, 'Drink, or you don't dare to be my friend.' What should Wah do? Write his responses step by step.
- Stay calm and remember this is peer pressure — the problem lies in the other person's words, not in Wah's friendship.
- Answer with firm eyes and a firm voice: 'I don't drink. Alcohol harms me and I'm underage — it's against school rules too.'
- Offer an alternative: 'Let's play basketball instead — loser buys the water.' Bring the mood back to a healthy activity.
- If the classmate keeps pressing, leave the park at once and stay no longer.
- Tell his parents what happened that evening, and inform the teacher the next day so an adult can follow up.
- Answer: Wah should stay calm, refuse firmly with his reasons, suggest another activity, leave the scene if pressed, and tell his parents and teacher. That protects his health and models the right refusal skills.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Which chemical in cigarettes is most addictive?
Q2How do tar and carbon monoxide each harm the body?
Q3Which organ does long-term heavy drinking harm, and what diseases follow?
Q4Name two refusal skills against tobacco and alcohol.
Q5What is second-hand smoke and why is it harmful?
8Recap Recap
- Cigarette smoke brings addictive nicotine, lung-damaging tar and carbon monoxide that starves the body of oxygen.
- Second-hand smoke harms family and friends too, children most of all.
- Alcohol damages the liver and brain and clouds judgement; the law forbids selling alcohol to minors.
- Peer pressure often uses friendship as a threat, but true friends respect your choice.
- Five refusal moves: say no firmly, give reasons, suggest alternatives, leave the scene, and tell an adult.