18th 24th October Alcohol Awareness Week

This year’s campaign is aimed at young people. It hopes to minimize harm, reduce the risk and restrict marketing.

• What is a safe level of drinking alcohol?
  If you are a man, you should drink no more than 21 units in a week (and no more than 4 in any one day)
  For a woman, this is 14 units per week (and no more than 3 in any one day).
  Children under 15 should never be given alcohol, even in small quantities.
• What is a unit of alcohol?
  It is 10ml by volume of pure alcohol or 8g by weight. As a rough guide, 1 unit of alcohol is the equivalent of half a pint of beer, cider or lager (3-4% alcohol by volume), 1 small measure of spirits (25ml of spirit 40% alcohol by volume), a standard (50ml) measure of fortified wine, port or sherry (20% alcohol by volume). A small glass of wine (125ml or 1/6th of a standard bottle) contains 1.5units (12% alcohol by volume). If your beer, wine or spirits are stronger than this, then obviously the units contained will be higher.
  
  Drinking more than this can lead to alcohol related disease, including cirrhosis of the liver, damage to the pancreas, certain cancers, heart disease and sexual problems to name but a few. It can also have a devastating impact on your family and friends and cause problems in the workplace.
• Do you have a problem with alcohol?
  Ask yourself these 4 questions.
  
  1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
  2. Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
  3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
  4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover?
  If you have answered “yes” to one, then it is possible you have a problem with alcohol. If you have said “yes” to 2 or more, then it is highly likely that an alcohol problem exists.

Not all problem drinkers are dependent on alcohol and could stop drinking without withdrawal symptoms but for whatever reason they chose to continue drinking. Alcohol dependence is where the drinker is addicted to alcohol. There will be a strong desire for alcohol, which can be overwhelming. The body becomes used to having a large amount of alcohol and after some hours without a drink the body develops symptoms of withdrawal, nausea, sweating, feeling awful, trembling, craving alcohol and in severe cases a seizure may occur. If you are dependent, then suddenly stopping alcohol can cause severe problems lasting up to 5 days and proper “detoxification” is undertaken. For young people, alcohol has its own particular problems. Whilst it might seem a laugh to go out with your mates and drink so much you can hardly remember what happened, the fact that you are incapable through alcohol puts you more at risk of having a serious accident. For a woman, she is more at risk of getting into a sexual situation that she regrets the next day, (including being raped). There is an increased risk of STI’s as alcohol loosens your inhibitions and you are more likely to have unprotected sex. Alcohol is a poison in large quantities. If you realize you have a problem, there is help out there, but only you can stop drinking. Alcoholics Anonymous have been around for a very long time and give you help and support life long. They also offer help and support to families of alcoholics. Your GP can also give you information on the local drugs and alcohol team.

You can get help from:

Drinkline – National Alcohol Helpline

Helpline 0800 917 8282 Monday to Friday 9am – 11pm, Weekends 6pm – 11pm

Or click on the following links for more information:

Alcoholics Anonymous »

AL-Anon Family Groups »

Department of Health: Alcohol misuse page »

Know your Units campaign. »