Alcohol
Men should not drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol per day.
Women no more than 2-3 units of alcohol per day. A pint of ordinary strength lager or bitter and a 175ml glass of wine = 2 units. A single pub measure of spirits = 1 unit.
Bear in mind that some brands of beers, wines and spirits are stronger than others and the measures we pour ourselves at home are usually bigger.
Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant should drink no more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week.
If you do drink alcohol here are a few tips to remember
- pace yourself — drink a soft drink between alcoholic drinks
- plan in advance how you will get home safely
- avoid getting into an argument
- don’t drink at work, even during your lunch break.
Heavy drinking can cause impotence, cirrhosis of the liver, stomach ulcers, brain damage, cancer and mental health problems. It can also damage lives – wrecked relationships, lost jobs, broken homes, accidents, violence, self-hate, depression, suicide.
Here are 5 warning signs that someone might be dependent on alcohol
- often drinks alone
- likes a drink in the morning
- needs to drink more for the same effect
- finds all sorts of excuses to have a drink
- is more irritable or argumentative than usual.
“I’ve seen at first hand the impact of excessive drinking on my patients. People who binge drink risk causing injury to themselves and others through accidents or violent incidents. Long term drinkers are storing up a whole host of health problems for the future such as liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, strokes and cancer. Despite all of this, if anyone feels they are drinking too much they can get help with reducing their drinking through referral to services in the community funded by Southwark Health and Social Care.”
Dr Jane Fryer, Local GP