With many people giving up alcohol for Dry January, some of us will have decided to reduce the amount we drink, or possibly given up alcohol entirely. Some of us may have just gone back to how we normally drink. If you're considering making some changes to your alcohol consumption, or keeping up the ones you've already made, there are some important things to consider.
When should I worry about how much I drink?
Most of us consume alcohol in moderation which doesn't create significant risks to our health. However, signs that you should re-consider the amount or way you drink can include:
- Feeling like you should reduce the amount you drink
- Feeling guilty or bad about your drinking
- Needing a drink to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover
- Being unable to remember what happened the night before because of your drinking
- Missing appointments due to being drunk or hungover
How much is too much?
The NHS recommends that people should consume no more than 14 units of alcohol a week and make sure they have several alcohol free days. Fourteen units of alcohol is equivalent to:
- 14 (25mL) shots of vodka or other
- 5 Pints of beer or cider (5% ABV), or
- A bottle and half of wine
Drinking more alcohol than this is linked to number of illnesses including heart disease, liver cancer, bowel cancer and mouth cancer.
But I thought red wine was good for me?!?!
Many small studies report that consuming alcohol can have a positive health effects. These studies often only consider a small range of factors and often only relate to a very small part of the population. On a larger scale consuming alcohol has more negative than positive consequences.
Deciding about drinking
If you don't drink alcohol, don't start because of potential health benefits. However, if you drink a light to moderate amount and you're healthy, you can probably continue as long as you drink responsibly. Be sure to check with your GP about what's right for your health and safety. You should also consider how your drinking affects other people including your close family and friends.