Alcohol, medicines and other substances can affect health, relationships, learning and work. This free Kent Business College course helps you recognise risks, challenge misleading claims and choose a useful next step. No personal disclosure is required: our learners and situations are fictional.
George and Alice guide you through twelve short chapters in plain British English, with warm humour where it fits and clear, calm guidance where safety matters.
Understanding substance risks; alcohol and units; medicines and online products; illegal drugs and uncertain contents; nicotine, vaping and inhalants; mixing substances; dependence and wellbeing; peer pressure, consent and spiking; work, college, driving and the law; recognising emergencies; getting help; and applying your judgement in realistic situations.
The twelve units provide about two hours of core learning, in roughly ten-minute sessions. Quizzes, feedback and retries take additional time: allow approximately four hours overall. Readings and recordings offer flexible ways to revisit the teaching. Pause whenever you need to.
Learners aged 16 and over in England, including apprentices and adults. No prior knowledge is needed. The course distinguishes advice for adults from advice for 16- and 17-year-olds. It supports personal development and safeguarding learning; providers should also use their own policies, support routes and learner needs.
Complete all video and reading lessons and achieve at least 7 out of 10 in each quiz, with every safety-critical answer correct in that same latest attempt. Read the feedback and retry when needed. The certificate records KBC course completion. It is not Ofsted approval, a regulated qualification or first-aid certification.
You can pause the course and seek help at any time. In an emergency in the UK, call 999. For non-emergency learner safeguarding support, email safeguarding@kentbusinesscollege.com; this inbox is not an emergency service. FRANK offers drug information and help finding services. The course uses current NHS and official UK sources, reviewed on 8 October 2026.
