January - alcohol

Alcohol is the biggest risk factor for death and ill-health in young adults in the UK. It is a cause of more than 60 medical conditions, including liver disease, heart problems and certain cancers. Reducing the amount of alcohol you drink will help you to live a longer, happier, healthier life.

Alcohol’s effect on your health depends a lot on how much you drink. The less you drink, the better.

Drinking no alcohol:

There is no completely safe amount of alcohol to drink. Even small amounts can harm your body over time. Therefore, not drinking is the best option for your health because it removes all of the risks connected to drinking.

Drinking in moderation (keeping within recommended amounts):

Drinking in moderation is better for you than drinking excessively. It reduces the risk of you getting health issues because of alcohol. However, the risk is not zero and stopping drinking entirely is best for your health.

Knowing how much alcohol you are drinking will help you to keep track of whether you are having too much. Units are used to measure the amount of alcohol in a drink, and so knowing how many units you are drinking, means you can work out how much alcohol you are having.

The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink, as well as its alcohol strength. Here are some examples of how many units are in common drinks:

Single serving (25ml) of a spirit (with non-alcoholic mixer) = 1 unit

A pint of “regular” beer, lager or cider = 2 units

A medium-sized glass of wine = 2 units

You can work out your units quickly and easily using this calculator

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, the recommendations for alcohol intake are:

• Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units per weeks on a regular basis
• Spread your dinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
• If you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

Cutting down how much alcohol you drink will have a wide range of benefits, some of which you could notice almost straight away.

Physical and Mental Health Benefits:

• Better mood and wellbeing
• Improved sleep, more energy and stronger memory
• Increased fertility
• Boosted immunity
• Slimmer waistline

Other benefits for your everyday life:

• Save more money
• Perform better at work

Here are some simple steps that you could take to cut-down or cut-out your alcohol intake. It is important that you take steps that you feel are manageable, and even small steps can be hugely beneficial for you.

• Make a plan – before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you’re going to drink
• Set a budget – only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol
• Let them know – you could get support from your friends and family
• Take it a day at a time – cut back a little each day
• Make it a smaller one – still enjoy a drink, but make it a smaller one
• Have a lower-strength drink – swap your drink for one with fewer units, or try an alcohol-free drink
• Take a break – have several drink-free days each week

Find more information about these steps and other sources of help on the NHS website

There is local support in Harrow to help you with cutting down your alcohol intake.

For adults (Over 18s):

Worried about your own or someone else’s alcohol use? VIA provides free and confidential advice, care and support for adults in Harrow. You can contact the service by phone or email, or you can make a self-referral using the online referral form. Any professional, like housing support workers, GPs or social workers can also make a referral for you.

Find more information about Via.

Children and Young Person (Under 24):

Are you concerned about yourself or a young person living in Harrow who may have been exposed to someone else’s alcohol misuse? Compass Elevation offers a free confidential service for five to 24 year olds who need support around alcohol use. You can self refer using the online referral form or be referred by professionals. Alternatively, you can come to the drop in session every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm.

Find more information about Compas Elevation.

Build on Belief (BoB):

Looking for peer support? Come visit BoB and become a ‘Friend of Bob’ to build a stronger recovery community together.

These are some important alcohol awareness dates for 2025:

• Dry January – January 2025
• Love Your Liver Awareness Month – January 2025
• Alcohol Awareness Week – July 2025 (exact date TBC)