Warwickshire backs alcohol units campaign
As part of the national alcohol ‘units’ campaign, Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) is encouraging people in Warwickshire to think about their drinking habits.
A survey reveals that 1 in 4 adults and half of all 18 to 24 year olds who drink in the county are classed as binge drinkers.
DAAT which co-ordinates the work of the county’s local authorities, police, health and voluntary agencies to tackle drug and alcohol misuse, is concerned with the survey results and has an Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy in place to tackle the problem.
Manager of the Warwickshire DAAT, Kit Leck said:
“We want to use this opportunity, during the national campaign on alcohol ‘units’, to encourage people to drink safely. More than 75% of people in the county drink alcohol and we know it plays an important part in many people’s lives.
“Drinking safely can be enjoyable, but risky drinking can damage your health, wealth, self respect and personal relationships. Alcohol can have serious consequences, including death, long-term chronic illness and make you more vulnerable to accidents and crime.
“Even if you aren’t worried about drinking, we’d strongly advise people to follow our tips for safer drinking.”
The Warwickshire survey also revealed that:
At least 11% of drinkers said that they drank alcohol everyday during the week before the survey, the likelihood of this increases with age.
Around 7% of adults consume more than 30 units per week.
It is clear that a significant amount of drinkers do not know how many units they are consuming on a regular basis. Just one bottle of alcopop or one measure of spirits is, on average, equal to 1.5 units of alcohol. A glass of wine or pint of lager could be between 2 and 3. Meanwhile, a pint of cider could be anything up to 4.5 units, depending on how strong it is.
As well as thinking about the amount you are drinking, we would encourage people to follow our tips for safer drinking:
- Make sure you eat before you start drinking
- If you are thirsty, start with a soft drink or stick to low-alcohol drinks
- Dilute your drinks with non-alcoholic drinks and ice, but avoid overuse of caffeinated ‘energy’ drinks
- Don’t buy in rounds, as you tend to drink more, also avoid ‘top-ups’
- Try to organise non-drinking social activities
- Set limits and stick to them – pace yourself
- Watch those measures when drinking at home
- Don’t drive, operate machinery or do anything risky after drinking
- Know what you’re drinking – mixed and spiked drinks are hard to spot
- Make sure you have some alcohol free days
There are dedicated services in Warwickshire for both adults and young people who have any concerns about alcohol; details can be found on the website http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/drugs or by calling the FRANK helpline on freephone 0800 776600.