Reacting to the NHS Information Centre’s new analysis of alcohol figures for 2007, Statistics on Alcohol: England, 2009 which shows around one in four adults in England are ‘hazardous’ drinkers, Chris Sorek, CEO of The Drinkaware Trust, says:
“Many people enjoy alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle but drinking to excess can lead to serious illness. To reduce the number of people drinking to ‘hazardous’ levels it’s crucial that consumers know how alcohol affects them and can make educated decisions about how much they’re drinking. Sticking to unit guidelines* and having two alcohol-free days a week can reduce the risks to health and wellbeing and, in some cases, reverse damage.
“With alcohol-related harm costing the NHS in England £2.7 billion per year, it’s imperative that consumers are unit-savvy. Whether it’s relaxing with a glass of wine at home or unwinding with friends in the pub, it’s a good idea for people to keep track of exactly how many units they’re drinking – this is often the first step towards responsible drinking.
“As an independent charity, Drinkaware is here to make sure people have the facts they need to enjoy alcohol without risking their health or emotional wellbeing in either the short or long term. People can find out how much they’re drinking by using tahe unit calculator on our website.“
Drinkaware