Alcohol Awareness Week 2017

Alcohol Awareness Week 2017

One You Merton is supporting Alcohol Awareness Week 2017 which this year has the theme of ‘Alcohol and Families’. The campaign runs from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th November and Alcohol Concern are aiming for this year’s campaign to be an opportunity for a discussion around the affect that harmful drinking has on families and the stigma attached to this.

Need to know facts about alcohol

• Harmful drinking is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health and disability among 15-49 year olds in the UK
• 50% of violent crime is attributable to alcohol
• Around 220,000 children in England live with an alcohol-dependent adult
• Alcohol is linked to more than 60 medical conditions including liver disease, heart disease, some cancers and depression
• In 2015 there were 8,758 deaths related to alcohol in the UK
  (Source: Alcohol Change UK)

Drinking advice

Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis (find out how many units of alcohol there are in your drink). If you regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week you increase the chances of developing illnesses such as:

• Cancers of the mouth, throat and breast
• Stroke
• Heart disease
• Liver disease
• Brain damage
• Damage to the nervous system
  Source: NHS website

Tools and support to cut down

If you feel you are drinking too much and you would like to cut down on the amount of alcohol you are drinking take the FREE One You Merton Drink Checker test. Alternatively, you can talk to a One You Merton health advisor by calling 020 8973 3545 or you can contact an alcohol support line