With the Christmas and New Year period almost here, there will be an increase in festivities, parties and family gatherings. It can be easy to over-indulge during the festive period and consuming too much alcohol can endanger your health both in the immediate and long term.
Drinking excessively can lead to a number of harmful physical and psychological effects including alcohol poisoning, liver and heart disease, violent behaviour and unprotected sex that could lead to an unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Your risk of developing problems increases with the amount of alcohol you drink.
Alcohol is measured in units and men should not drink more than three–four units of alcohol a day. Women should not drink more than two – three units a day.
So what can you do to cut down on the amount of alcohol you consume this festive period? Lisa Waterhouse, alcohol support worker at Heartlands Hospital, said: “Most of us enjoy having a drink with family and friends during the festive season as it helps us to relax and socialise – we can forget our worries for a while and feel a bit happier.
“The first step to take is to look honestly at how much you already drink. Get an understanding of the amount you drink and what that equals in alcohol units and calories.
“Buying small wine glasses or an alcohol measure are good ways of making sure you don’t drink more than you intend to.
“If you are going on a night out, do set a limit on how much you’re going to drink. Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol. It will also be much easier if you stay in control of what you drink.
“Drinking in rounds can make you drink a lot faster than you’d like or realise. Opt out or try buying drinks with a smaller group of friends instead. Rather than sticking to pints, try sipping halves, go for a bottled beer or if you are drinking wine, opt for a small glass.
“Also try diluted alcoholic drinks such as a spritzer or shandy. Having a soft drink or two with each alcoholic drink will help you stay hydrated.
“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.”
Benefits of cutting down on alcohol include:
- feeling better in the mornings
- being less tired during the day
- your skin will start to look better
- you’ll start to feel fitter
- you may stop gaining weight
Lisa adds: “Drinking can affect your sleep. Although it can help some people fall asleep quickly, it can disrupt your sleep patterns and stop you from sleeping deeply. So cutting down on alcohol should help you feel more rested when you wake up.
“Cutting down can be great news for your long-term health. Drinking less alcohol will reduce the risks of alcohol-related cancers, diabetes and heart disease.”
For more information, please visit https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/.
– See more at: https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk
