Hey and welcome to another blog post from Dramante, in this edition we take a closer look at how alcohol affects our everyday lives and where to get support.
Alcohol Awareness Week
This year alcohol awareness week takes place from 3-9th July in the UK which is a week of raising awareness, campaigning for change and more. It is a chance for people in the UK to get thinking about drinking. This year’s theme is ‘Alcohol and Cost’.
The harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties. It brings with it huge social costs too with the significant pressure it places on the NHS, the emergency services, police and workplaces.
The total social cost of alcohol to society is estimated to be at least £21 billion each year. We as individuals also spend tens of thousands of pounds on average on alcohol over the course of a lifetime. But the personal costs are much starker with alcohol death rates increasing to the highest rate since records began since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, and millions more people suffering from worsened mental and physical health every day as a result of harmful drinking.
The cost of living crisis has also played a key role in causing some people to drink more than they’d like in order to cope with worries around the financial crisis. However the cost of alcohol to individuals, our relationships, our families, and our stretched vital public services doesn’t have to be so high.
The effects of alcohol
The short and long-term effects of alcohol can affect your body, lifestyle and mental health.
- Increased blood pressure - Alcohol consumption is an entirely preventable cause of severe hypertension (the medical name for sustained high blood pressure) in both men and women. Untreated high blood pressure greatly increases your risk of stroke and heart attack.
- Weight gain - Drinking alcohol will add to the overall calories we consume each day. Calories from alcohol are 'empty calories', meaning they have little nutritional benefit. So consuming extra calories through drinking can lead to weight gain.
- Chemical imbalance in the brain - A healthy brain relies on a delicate balance of chemicals and processes. Alcohol is a depressant, which means it disrupts that balance.
- Affects sleep patterns - The alcohol in your system will mean you spend less time in the important Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, with the end result that you wake up feeling less refreshed.
Summary
Alcohol affects so many lives, sometimes for better in most parts but sometimes for worse. We can all take steps to make a change, with improved support and prevention, we can save money and save lives.
In England there are an estimated 602,391 dependent drinkers. Only 18% are receiving treatment. Always remember if you are worried about yourself or someone you care about you can get help from www.drinkaware.co.uk
We are big advocates for drinking responsibly, so when drinking remember to only consume within your limits and enjoy yourselves. Government guidance says that men and women shouldn’t regularly drink more than 14 units a week. It's worth noting that you can have a nice tasting non-alcoholic alternative for most drink types and something Dramante will look to add to our range in the future.
After all, no one enjoys a hangover!
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