Could you use some time off the booze?
Like to unwind with a glass of something in the evening? If you’re not careful it’s easy for the occasional glass in the evening to quickly become two or three glasses most days.
Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This is the same as six pints of average strength beer a week. Regularly drinking more than this can increase the risk to your health.
It’s important to know how much you are drinking and the easy ways you can cut back.
Drink and you
It may seem like you don’t drink much, but a drink or two most evenings can do harm to your body. From making you gain weight to increasing your risk of cancer, alcohol can have serious effects on your body.
Why cut down?
If you regularly drink above the lower risk guidelines, cutting back on alcohol can help your general wellbeing. Once you start cutting back, you’ll probably notice the benefits. The biggest benefit is the reduced risk to your health, but there are lots of others, too.
Medical warning: If you have physical withdrawal symptoms (shaking, sweating or feelings of anxiety until you have your first drink of the day) you should take medical advice before stopping completely – it can be dangerous to do this too quickly and without proper advice and support. Call Drinkline free on 0300 123 1110 for more advice.
The more you drink, and the more often, the greater the risk to your health.
Drink less
It’s important to know how much you are drinking and that there are easy ways you can cut back, without cutting alcohol out completely.
You could try making some simple swaps when you’re out, or, if you drink every day, having at least a couple of booze-free nights each week.