Stay healthy and enjoy safe drinking Top tips for socialising when Dry January’s come and gone
AFTER treating ourselves during the festive season it’s hardly surprising that people decide to take the opportunity to look at their health.
The diets begin and party people declare the first month of the New Year to be Dry January, giving up alcohol in order to give their livers a well-earned rest.
But what happens for the rest of the year? Alcohol is a growing concern with drinking linked to more than 60 medical conditions, according to Alcohol Concern.
Of course, it’s fine to have an occasional drink while socialising but it’s so easy to drink too much without realising it.
According to current guidelines, adults should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis and if they do it’s best to spread their drinking over three or more days.
If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions you may need to cut down or even ask for help from your GP or a pharmacist at your local LloydsPharmacy.
Is drinking an important part of your life (or possibly the most important thing)?
Do you regularly exceed the weekly recommended limit?
Do you find yourself drinking more when you’re under stress?
Are you always thinking about when you’ll have your next drink?
It’s always helpful to look at how much you drink and find ways to help you drink less.
Setting yourself a limit for how much you’re going to drink before you start is a good idea, as is having at least one soft drink or a glass of water with each alcoholic drink.
Instead of drinking pints of beer or large glasses of wine, go for halves or bottles of beer, and ask for wine in a small glass.
Don’t try to keep up with people or drink in rounds, and consider diluting your drinks by having a shandy or a spritzer.
Another handy tip is to sit while you drink instead of standing as this helps you to drink more slowly.
It is especially important to consider the effect alcohol may have on any medication you may be taking.
Pharmacist Gordon Heeley says: “You should always check whether it is safe to drink with your medication.
“Alcohol interacts with a variety of medicines and can increase the likelihood of falls, sleep disturbance, confusion, drowsiness and sedation.
“Antibiotics are affected by alcohol and one, metronidazole, prescribed by doctors and dentists, can have severe side-effects including dizziness, vomiting and an irregular heartbeat.”
Always check with the healthcare team at your local LloydsPharmacy so any potentially harmful interactions can be avoided.