Drink a little less, feel a lot better

IDON’T get drunk, I rarely have a hangover, I don’t drink at home on my own, I remember how I got home, I didn’t fall over or get into a fight, I didn’t throw up over my friend’s handbag … but I did have a few drinks.

I found out last week that alcohol caused more years of life lost to the Wokingham Borough workforce than the 10 most common cancers combined.

I also found out that you are 65 percent more likely to have depression if you drink alcohol regularly.

There is research to indicate that middle class, middle aged people are regularly drinking more than they should.

Anecdotally it would seem that mums are also drinking more and “wine o’clock” is rapidly becoming a favourite part of the day.

Just because you are healthy, active, sociable and educated does not mean that you can drink alcohol without there being health risks.

Over recent years, units of alcohol have shrunk as the strength of alcohol has increased and the UK’s Chief Medical officer has issued new guidance that the recommended maximum number of units for both men and women per week is 14 and no more than three units in one sitting.

So how many units do you think a bottle of wine has in it? The answer is 10.

I know many of you are thinking “I can polish off a bottle of wine in one sitting.”

The organisation Drink Aware reported that in recent years, the quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption among younger age groups has declined, drinking behaviours among older people have not declined in the same way.

As a result, they launched a new campaign earlier this year: “Have a little less, feel a lot better”.

The aim of the campaign is to help middle aged people understand that drinking even a little less alcohol each day throughout the week can have benefits for their health, such as weight loss, improved skin, reduced blood pressure, improved sleep and mental well-being.

It is scientifically proven that drinking alcohol contributes to a number of illness, including stroke, liver disease, atrial fibrillation, weight gain and obesity, erectile dysfunction and some cancers.

Overall reducing drinking will lead to improved health outcomes.

The thing with alcohol is that many of us think that one more drink will be okay.

What we don’t yet know, and won’t until we see it, is quite how that choice will work out.

Please take a look at www.drinkaware.co.uk/ little-less for lots of information and interactive tools such as a unit calculator that converts into the equivalent number of calories in food (if you dare).

How to contact us :

Facebook @healthwatchwokingham

Twitter @HWWokingham

Phone 0118 418 1 418

Website www.healthwatchwokingham.co.uk E-Mail enquiries@healthwatchwokingham.co.uk Walk in via Citizens Advice at 2 Waterford House, Erfstadt Court, Denmark Street, Wokingham RG40 2YF.

Nicola Strudley is manager for Healthwatch Wokingham Borough. Opinions are her own