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Drink Alcohol within recommended limits

Graphic of a person holding a glass of red wine and a sign saying "know your units".

 

The UK Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines on low risk drinking recommend that adults should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. People who drink as much as 14 units a week are advised to spread their drinking over three or more days in the week. Women who are pregnant, or who think that they could be, are advised that it is safest not to drink at all.

A fifth of adults in Cardiff and Vale report drinking above the weekly guidelines.

A recent report by Public Health England identified a number of ways that alcohol harms the health both of the drinker and those around them. The immediate risks of heavy drinking include alcohol poisoning, injuries, emotional and relationship problems.  In the long term, drinking any amount of alcohol regularly increases the risk of a range of illnesses including breast and bowel cancer.

 

The Benefits of Low or No Alcohol

Health Benefits

  • More Energy
  • Improved Skin
  • Improved fitness
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight
  • Lower Risk of High Blood Pressure
  • Lower Risk of certain Cancers
  • Improved Memory
  • Lower Risk of Brain Damage
  • Decreased Anxiety

There are also social and financial benefits associated with drinking less or no alcohol.

ASK

"Are you interested in making a change to the amount of alcohol you drink?"

ADVISE
  • Know how many alcohol units you are drinking (1 pint of beer or cider (4% strength) is at least 2.3 units and 1 standard glass of wine (175ml) is at least 2.1 units).
  • Keep the amount of alcohol you drink within the recommended limits of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week for both men and women
  • If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, best to spread this evenly over 3 days or more
  • Avoid alcohol if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
  • If over 65, it is recommended not to drink more than 1.5 units in one day
  • This will reduce your risk of stroke, heart and liver disease, several cancers, work and family problems, accidents and violent incidents and damage to your baby if pregnant.
  • Cutting back on alcohol can also help you to save money, lose weight, feel better in the mornings, have more energy and feel less tired during the day, feel in better shape and make your skin look better.
  • Advise your client to try the following:
    • Have several alcohol free days each week
    • Swap your usual for: a smaller drink e.g. a smaller glass of wine or a bottle of beer over a pint; a lower-strength drink e.g. one with less units or lower alcohol content (ABV); a soft drink/glass of water; or drink only with a meal
  • On a night out: set yourself a limit on how much you will drink; set yourself a budget; start drinking later; sit out a round, buy yourself a soft drink when it’s your round; replace your usual with a smaller glass or lower-strength drink.
ACT

If trained to do so, help them calculate the amount of units they drink and offer a brief intervention, if appropriate. Training on delivering Alcohol Brief Interventions is available through the contact below.

If the person is worried about their own or someone else’s drinking signpost to their GP or to the following services:

Who We Are

Meet the public health team.

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What We Do

The public health team identifies and addresses current and future population health issues, improves health and reduces health inequalities among residents and communities in our area.

Key Areas of Focus

The wide range of health-related topics the Public Health Team cover include alcohol, tobacco, keeping fit, fall prevention and more.

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Public Health Dietetic Team

The Public Health Dietetic Team supports and develops new initiatives helping people to make healthy food choices.

Key Publications and Information for Professionals

We have included the key publications which you may find of interest.