Does Your Drinking Add Up?

Do you know how many units of alcohol are safe to drink? Do you know that a large glass of wine or a pint of strong lager can be more than 3 units?

It is hard to know how much we are drinking, and whether we are damaging our health. But by making sure we have the correct information we can make our own decisions on how much we drink and hopefully have a long and happy life.

Scotland’s first ever Alcohol Awareness Week which takes place from 21-27th October is asking us to just think about what we are drinking and how much. Most of us are aware of units but we don’t bear them in mind when we are ordering at the bar, or pouring ourselves a drink at home.

Too much alcohol can result in short and long term effects such as weight gain and infertility to liver damage and some cancers. Being drunk can cause arguments and cause us to risk personal safety. Hangovers are responsible for 640,000 lost working days each year in the UK.

Colin Anderson, Chair of Midlothian Drug and Alcohol Action Team (MDAAT) said, “We often pick up a snack or something in the supermarket and check the packet to see how many calories, the fat content, and how many additives we are consuming. If we did the same with our alcoholic drinks we would be able to keep track of what we are consuming and know when we have had too much. In Alcohol Awareness Week the message is ‘know your drinks and check your units’ and I would urge everyone to start to do just that.”

The recommended limits for men are 3-4 units a day and for women 2-3 units. After any episode of heavy drinking, avoid alcohol for two days to let your body recover. It is recommended that people should aim to avoid alcohol for at least two days a week.

Visit www.alcoholawarenessweek.com for more information.