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Alcohol Awareness Week

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Alcohol Awareness Week 14 November - 20 November 2011

NHS Leeds is launching a campaign during Alcohol Awareness Week themed 'drinking causes damage you can't see', to highlight the hidden damage alcohol can cause to your health.

For many of us, drinking with family and friends is one of life’s pleasures. But for some people in Leeds their drinking can lead to longer team health problems. In Leeds 4 out of 10 people are likely to drink more than the recommended daily limit 2-3 units (for women) and 3-4 units (for men) on at least one day a week. This can cause damage that you can’t see.

Men regularly drinking more than 2 pints of strong 5.2% lager a day:

are over 3 times more likely to get mouth cancer; and
could be 3 times more likely to have a stroke.

Women regularly drinking 2 large glasses of 13% wine or more a day:

are 2 times as likely to have high blood pressure; and
are 50% more likely to get breast cancer.

So how do you know if you’re drinking at harmful levels? Follow the link www.nhs.uk/alcohol to use the unit calculator or complete the self assessment to find out if you’re drinking too much. It’ll help you to assess the effects of your drinking and, if you are drinking too much, suggest ways of cutting down.

The NHS recommends:

Men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day.

Women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day

'Regularly' means drinking this amount every day or most days of the week.

Not sure what's in a unit? Use this simple units calculator from NHS Choices.

Simple tips to help you cut down the amount you drink.

Make a plan

Before you start drinking, set yourself a limit on how much you’re going to drink.

Set yourself a budget

Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.

Let people know

If you let your friends and family know you’re cutting down and that it’s important to you, you could get support from them.

Take it a day at a time

Try and cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.

Make it a smaller one

You can still enjoy a drink but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer or a small glass of wine.

Have a lower-strength drink

Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle.

Stay hydrated

Drink a pint of water before you start drinking, and avoid using alcohol to quench your thirst. Have a soft drink instead.

Take a break

Have the odd day each week when you don’t have an alcoholic drink.

Getting help and support

If you would like to talk to anybody about your drinking please contact one of our local Leeds alcohol services on 0113 247 0111. They will be able to give you the information and support you need.

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