A new partnership alcohol campaign called 'New Year, New You' has been launched this week urging people to re-think their drink this New Year.
The East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership campaign is targeting people who often drink alcohol at home in the evening after a days work, but who do not realise that they may be causing long term damage to their health.
Nationally, one in four people drink alcohol at levels that are above safe guidelines, and it is sometimes difficult to know when everyday alcohol use can be damaging your health.
Councillor Bob Tidy said:
"This innovative campaign is being run so that more people will check how much they drink and will find out if they are drinking safely.
There is no better time to re-think your drink. New
Year, New You' encourages everyone to use the empty bottles they recycle to keep tabs on how much alcohol they drink at home.
We are good at being kind to the environment, but are we kind enough to ourselves?"
Charles Everett from the NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald and NHS Hastings and Rother, said:
"Sensible drinking is a key part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This campaign is aimed at prompting people to think about how much alcohol they drink and to understand how many units of alcohol it is safe to consume so that they can make changes to improve their health and well-being."
The UK Government advises that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women not more than two to three.
Consistently drinking four or more units for men, and three or more for women, isn't advisable because of the progressive health risks it carries.
After an episode of heavy drinking it is advisable to refrain
from drinking for 48 hours.
This campaign supports the recently revised East Sussex Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 2009-2012 which aims to minimise the health harm, violence, crime and anti-social behaviour associated with alcohol for individuals, families and communities, while ensuring that people are
able to enjoy alcohol safely.
To see the strategy go to:www.safeineastsussex.gov.uk.
Take the drink check quiz today at: www.drinkcheck.nhs.uk
To find out more about how many units there are in different drinks go to: www.nhs.uk/units
If you, or someone you know, has a problem with alcohol access help at:
Action for Change - Eastbourne, Lewes, Wealden - 01323 419696
Hastings and Rother - 01424 460066.
Drinkline (24 hour national alcohol helpline) - 0800 9178282
If you are a parent/carer and are concerned about your child and their drinking, you can seek help and advice from your local Under 19's Substance Misuse Service - 01323 841470.
