Alcohol

Beverage alcohol, or ethanol, can be very dangerous for children. Always make sure that all containers of alcohol are correctly stored and out of the reach of children.

A child’s senses of smell and taste are not fully developed, so they may think that alcohol is juice, soda, or water. Children can become intoxicated by a very small amount of alcohol. It can cause a child's blood sugar to fall to levels that are too low, which can cause seizures and unconsciousness. Alcohol can also cause nausea and vomiting.

There are many over the counter products that contain alcohol and can also cause intoxication.

Mouthwash, rubbing alcohol, perfume, cologne, after-shave and most hand sanitizers contain a high amount of alcohol and can be intoxicating if swallowed. Make sure to properly store all forms of alcohol out of the reach of children and call Carolinas Poison Center if your child drinks alcohol or any other product that contains alcohol.

Call NC Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or chat from this site for questions about an exposure to alcohol or for more information.