{"id":368,"date":"2022-01-18T09:46:22","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T09:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/?p=368"},"modified":"2022-03-15T10:59:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-15T10:59:03","slug":"sex-drugs-and-alcohol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/2022\/01\/18\/sex-drugs-and-alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex, Drugs and Alcohol"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Quite\u00a0an\u00a0eye-catching title, right? And it is not clickbait! In this blog post we will discuss the implications alcohol and drug consumption might present to someone\u2019s ability to consent to sexual activity.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">S74 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0defines consent in the following way:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201ca person consents if he agrees by choice, and has the freedom and capacity to make that choice\u201d<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fact<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: Drinking alcohol and taking drugs does not\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">necessarily<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0mean someone cannot consent.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We all know\u00a0that alcohol and drugs\u00a0can\u00a0affect our judgment, our capacity to communicate clearly and our ability to interpret\u00a0other\u00a0people\u2019s communication\u00a0so,\u00a0you can already guess that alcohol and drugs do make giving and getting consent\u00a0trickier\u00a0\u2013\u00a0\u00a0after\u00a0all, consent\u00a0has to\u00a0be clearly communicated and understood.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Quite a few people already find talking about consent and sex awkward \u2013 even when they know their partners well\u00a0\u2013\u00a0adding alcohol or other drugs to those situations is likely to complicate that crucial communication.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To understand when someone is free and capable of giving\u00a0consent,\u00a0we ought to focus on two\u00a0key words:\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">intoxication<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">incapacitation<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If someone is\u00a0<\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">incapacitated,<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0they CANNOT give consent.\u00a0What is incapacitation?\u00a0 It is a state beyond drunkenness and intoxication (caused by\u00a0either alcohol or drugs).\u00a0Someone can be incapacitated and\u00a0still\u00a0be conscious, but they are no longer in good control of their mind and body. You can spot if someone is unable to give consent if, for example:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They cannot speak coherently<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They confuse basic facts (do they know what just happened?)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They struggle to walk unassisted<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"6\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They have passed out<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Intoxication<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0is different. One is intoxicated from the moment they consume alcohol or\u00a0drugs, and their physical and mental control is\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">diminished<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. This\u00a0can manifest in varying degrees, including slurred speech, stumbling while walking and exaggerated emotions.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u00a0is the resemblance between signs of intoxication and incapacitation that makes the distinction tricky: the key difference is that intoxication is about\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">diminished<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0control, whereas\u00a0incapacitation is about\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">absence of<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If\u00a0an intoxicated person\u00a0gives\u00a0consent, you can have sex with\u00a0them, but\u00a0you should reflect on why you want to do so, especially because the other person is likely to be in a more vulnerable situation.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Lots of factors can influence when someone goes from being intoxicated to incapacitated after consuming alcohol or drugs: a\u00a0person&#8217;s body size, tolerance, the amount and type of alcohol or other drugs consumed, medications already in someone&#8217;s system, a person&#8217;s mood, etc.\u00a0All of these will affect how well they\u00a0are capable of communicating, responding, and reacting.\u00a0It is your responsibility to check in, ask, and make sure they are okay with what is going on. If you are not totally sure they want to have sex &#8211; stop. Consent is something that you will need to keep checking throughout\u00a0sexual activity.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It is always safer to rely on a verbal YES<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, whilst also paying attention your partner(s) facial expressions and body language.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In short, after a night out and a couple of drinks, always\u00a0ask yourself\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0is your partner capable of freely giving consent? Can they give it clearly, voluntarily, and unambiguously?\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If there is any uncertainty\u00a0&#8211;\u00a0don\u2019t do it.<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Consent. Get It. Full Stop.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Written by Filipa Paes, third year student, 6.1.22<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Read more about\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/guides\/consent\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">the University of Kent\u2019s sex-positive campaign<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0to cultivate and strengthen a culture of consent in our community of staff and students.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:240,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Check out further articles on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/community-life#articles\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Community Life<\/span><\/a>, <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/conduct-and-complaints#articles\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Consent<\/span><\/a> and <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/faith-and-belief#articles\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Support and Wellbeing<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quite\u00a0an\u00a0eye-catching title, right? And it is not clickbait! In this blog post we will discuss the implications alcohol and drug consumption might present to someone\u2019s &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/2022\/01\/18\/sex-drugs-and-alcohol\/\">Read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":76783,"featured_media":369,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[258192,258580,257830],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/76783"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=368"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":655,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/368\/revisions\/655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/369"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=368"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=368"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/student-services\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}