Name three short-term effects of alcohol on coordination or judgement.

• A. Increased energy and improved concentration.
• B. Better memory and faster reactions.
• C. Slowed reaction time, impaired balance or coordination, and poorer judgement.
• D. No effects on coordination.

Answer: (C)

Alcohol affects the brain quickly, slowing how nerves communicate. This leads to three common short-term effects on coordination and judgement: slower reaction time, impaired balance or coordination, and poorer judgement. Slower reaction time means you take longer to respond to things happening around you, which is dangerous in activities like driving or crossing the street. Impaired balance or coordination makes your movements less steady and more clumsy. Poorer judgement means you’re less able to assess risks and make safe choices, which can lead to risky or impulsive behavior.

Options that talk about increased energy, improved concentration, better memory, or faster reactions don’t fit because alcohol does the opposite: it often makes you feel tired, dulls thinking, impairs memory, and slows reflexes. Saying there are no effects on coordination is also incorrect, since noticeable short-term changes in coordination are a hallmark of drinking.