My Health

Alcohol In Moderation

Most of us drink. Some of us drink more regularly than others. But how often is too often? And how much is too much?

The fact is alcohol affects all of us differently. What is manageable for some can be a problem for others. Remember, drinking regularly may not mean you have a serious problem. It may only take a small change to make a big difference.

 

» Back to Top

 

 

What are alcohol units?

Unfortunately you can't just count each drink as a unit of alcohol. The number of units depends on the different strength and size of each drink, so it can vary a lot.

Use this NHS drink calculator to help you plan a night out, or help you work out how much you drank last night. It's simple to use: just click on your drink, choose a strength and volume then calculate the units. You can calculate and add up the units of multiple drinks.

» Unit Calculator.

Find out if you're drinking too much at the Down your Drink website.

» Back to Top

 

What is 'binge drinking'?

Binge drinking can be defined as drinking heavily, or with enough alcohol to reach a state of intoxication, on one occasion or in the course of one drinking session. There is no consistently agreed measure of 'binge drinking'. More than eight units for men and more than six units for women on any one day is used as a measure of binge drinking in the population, but individuals vary and the vital thing is to avoid drinking to intoxication on particular occasions. Binge drinking is a major factor in accidents, violence and anti-social behaviour.

» Back to Top

 

What are the risks of drinking too much?

Most people who suffer from health problems because of their drinking are not alcoholics, but rather are those who drink heavily over a number of years. Many suffer few immediate consequences of their drinking, but cumulatively it takes its toll. 6,000 deaths from coronary heart disease in men each year are directly due to alcohol. And 400 of the 1,700 deaths from mouth cancer per year are linked to heavy drinking - that's nearly one in four.

In England and Wales, alcohol misuse leads to some 33,000 hospital admissions each year for alcohol-related liver disease. For more information on the effects and risks of social drinking and binge drinking and how to cut down on drink go to the following NHS web pages:
» Health Harms
» Alcohol pages

» Back to Top

 

Are you pregnant and concerned about your drinking?

Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. When you drink, alcohol reaches your baby through the placenta. But the baby can't process it as fast as you can, so it is exposed to greater amounts of alcohol for longer than you are, which can seriously affect the baby's development.

If you want to know more about the risks of alcohol to fertility, the risks of alcohol on the unborn child, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol and breast feeding and cutting down alcohol when pregnant, go to the NHS pregnancy website.

» Back to Top

 

Concerned about Alcohol and road safety?

If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.

Any amount of alcohol affects your ability to drive. There is no foolproof way of drinking and staying under the limit, or of knowing how much an individual person can drink and still drive safely.

Go to the Department for Transport website for more information on drink driving.

» Back to Top

 

National Dates: Alcohol in Moderation

24 - 28 January 2011

Food Allergy and Intolerance Week.

www.allergyuk.org


4 February 2011

Stress Down Day, Samaritans.

www.stressdownday.org


11 - 27 April 2011

National Depression Weeks, Depression Alliance.

www.depressionalliance.org


13 - 19 June 2011

Diabetes Week, Diabetes UK.

www.diabetes.org.uk


20 - 26 June 2011

National Falls Awareness Week.

www.ageuk.org.uk


24 July 2011

24/7 Samaritans Awareness Day.

www.samaritans.org


1 - 31 August 2011

National Road Victim Month, Road Peace.

www.roadpeace.org


9 September 2011

International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Awareness day, Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Aware UK.

www.fasaware.co.uk


13 - 19 September 2011

Sexual Health Week, Family Planning Assciation.

www.fpa.org.uk


21 - 27 November 2011

Road Safety Week, Brake - the Road Safety Charity.

www.roadsafetyweek.org


» Back to Top

 

Did you know

  •    You are entitled to review your medications with your local pharmacist free of charge.
  •    A healthy balanced diet, taking more exercise and losing weight if necessary may delay the onset of diabetes.
  •    Young people aged 13-25 years can access free, confidential sexual health advice and condoms from the Cardiff Condom-Card (C-Card) Scheme.
  •    A reduction in dietary salt intake from 9g to 6g could reduce blood pressure.
  •    In England and Wales, alcohol misuse leads to some 33,000 hospital admissions each year for alcohol-related liver disease.
  •    Improving your diet could prevent an estimated third of cancers.
  •    Over 40% of 5 year olds in Cardiff have one or more decayed teeth.
  •    Currently, over half of the population of Cardiff are reported to be overweight or obese.
  •    If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.
  •    A healthy balance diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
  •    Obesity is associated with a reduction in life expectancy of approximately 9 years.
  •    Regular exercise can really help if you're feeling depressed, stressed or anxious.
  •    A diet rich in fruit and vegetables decreases the risk of coronary heart disease.
  •    Of the people alive today, 650 million will eventually be killed by tobacco.
  •    An extra portion of fruit and vegetables per day could decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by 4% and stroke by 6%.
  •    If you are regularly physically active, you are 50% less likely of becoming obese.
  •    Nearly £2000 a year could be saved by quitting smoking 20 cigarettes per day.
  •    If you are regularly physically active, you are approximately 50% less likely to develop coronary health disease than those who do not exercise.
  •    By taking regular physical activity you are at reduced risk of developing osteoporosis.
  •    Smoking during pregnancy has been identified as a cause of cot death.
  •    In Wales, the total cost of physical inactivity to the health service and the economy as a whole is estimated at around £650 million per year.
  •    6,000 deaths from coronary heart disease in men each year are directly due to alcohol.
  •    Only 26% of adults in Cardiff undertake the recommended 5 x 30 minutes exercise per week.

Useful Downloads

» You, Your Child and Alcohol (pdf)

» Drug, Alcohol and Related Services in Cardiff (pdf)

» Drink Aware Trust Grants