Alcohol

Many people enjoy a drink of alcohol, whether socialising with friends or family, however drinking too much alcohol can be harmful to health. Find out about guidelines for safe drinking levels and how to be alcohol aware.

Being Alcohol Aware
Many adults enjoy drinking alcohol, particularly in social settings such as pubs and clubs. It is legal to buy alcohol once you are eighteen years old. However, alcohol is a drug which temporarily switches off the centres of the brain that control our physical, mental, emotional and behavioural states. This is why when people are intoxicated, they may lack co-ordination, they may make rash decisions, be loud or aggressive, be involved in accidents or may even collapse and become unconscious.
What is a unit of alcohol?

One drink isn't always one unit of alcohol. There is no fixed number of units of alcohol that is safe to consume, as it depends on individual body mass and how alcohol is assimilated by the body. Also, there are situations such as driving or being in charge of machinery, when it is necessary to be alert and responsive, and therefore, no alcohol should be consumed.

A unit of alcohol is measured by the size (ml) and strength (% alcohol by volume or ABV) of the drink. Take a look at the strength and unit of content of these common drinks:
Common drinks Units ABV

• 1 pint of regular lager 2.3 units 4%
• 1 pint of premium lager 3 units 5.20%
• 500ml can of super strength lager 4.5 units 9%
• 250ml glass of red/white wine 3 units 12%
• 35ml measure of sprits 1.4 units 40%
• 700ml bottle of spirits 28 units 40%
• 1 litre of strong cider 7.5 units 7.50%

How much alcohol may I consume on a daily basis?
The following are national guidelines for adult alcohol consumption that should not pose a risk to your health. Although individuals may have certain medical conditions or be taking medication that makes any consumption of alcohol unwise.

• Men: 3-4 units or less per day
• Women: 2-3 units or less per day.

It is important to have at least one alcohol-free day per week.

Alcohol affects women more quickly than men because they tend to be lighter, their bodies contain less water and their metabolisms are different.

High levels of alcohol use can cause the following health problems:

• Liver disease/cirrhosis
• Increased risk of heart disease or stroke
• Mental health problems
• Weight gain

There are three types of alcohol misuse

• Hazardous drinking - Drinking more than 3 units (women) and 4 units (men) in one day but not yet suffering any ill effects
• Harmful drinking - Drinking more than 3 units (women) and 4 units (men) in one day and suffering ill effects like weight gain, high blood pressure, accidents, injuries, taking risks out of character, blackouts, depression, anxiety, breaking the law, or missing work/arrangements due to a hangover
• Dependent drinking - Drinking more than 3 units (women) and 4 units (men) in one day and developing alcohol dependency syndrome, and suffering withdrawal symptoms such as involuntary shaking, sweating, panic, nausea, dry heaving, diarrhoea, hallucinations and seizures

Click to calculate your average daily alcohol intake http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/interactivetools/alcohol

Tips for Drinking Sensibly
It is better to always drink within safe limits; here are a few tips to help you stay safe:

• Eat before you drink
• Drinking in rounds often means you drink more than you want. Try to skip a round or opt for a non-alcoholic alternative.
• Pace yourself by taking smaller, less frequent sips or smaller glasses.
• Plan the number of units that you want to drink, per day or per week, and try to stick to it
• Avoid 'top ups' so you can keep track of the quantity that you are drinking.
• If you are going out drinking ensure you know how you are getting home and how you will pay for it.
• Alcohol can reduce your sexual inhibitions - be careful and don't practice unsafe sex.
• On a night out never leave your friends, particularly if they are intoxicated.

Help and support
If you are concerned about the level of your alcohol consumption, talk to your GP or practice nurse. They will assess your situation and be able to discuss the support or treatment options available.

If you are a young person you can talk confidentially to a youth worker, school nurse or GP. If you don't want to see your own GP there is a confidential young person's drop-in service at the Junction Community and Young Persons Venue (behind Newton Abbot Leisure Centre) on Fridays from 2.45pm - 4.00pm. There is a doctor there especially for young people and you can discuss any health issues with them, including alcohol misuse.

The following contacts offer help and support for adults and young people alike.

• EDP South Devon Drug Services for adults and young people - open to anyone for information, advice and support around drugs or alcohol, call 01626 351144 (www.edpservices.org.uk)
• Drink line - provides information and advice to anyone concerned about sensible drinking, call 0800 917 8282.
• AL-Anon Family Groups - for the families of people with drinking problems, 0207 403 0888 (www.al-anonuk.org.uk)
• Alcoholics Anonymous - a voluntary fellowship of people from all walks of life, 0845 769 7555 (www.aa-uk.org.uk)
• Young Addaction - services for young people and their families helping to manage the effects of drug and alcohol misuse, 0800 0196 0197 (www.youngaddaction.org.uk)
• Alcohol Concern - a national agency on alcohol misuse working to reduce the incidence and costs of alcohol-related harm and to increase the range and quality of services available to people with alcohol-related problems (www.alcoholconcern.org.uk)
• NHS Direct - advice from the national NHS website (www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=10)
• The Portman Group - general information website about the safe consumption of alcohol (www.drinkaware.co.uk)
• Adfam - Support for families with a family member facing problems with drugs or alcohol (www.adfam.org.uk)

The following are sites designed for young people:

• Mind, Body and Soul - a new website which aims to give young people aged 14-16, the lowdown on health issues in a fun and interesting way. (www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk/alcohol/alcmenu.html)
• NHS Think about Drink (www.wrecked.co.uk)

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