Alcohol and Drugs Support

People approach alcohol consumption in different ways. It’s helpful to consider where your drinking habits fall:

• Non-drinker
• Drinking alcohol within safe limits
• Harmful binge drinking: Consuming alcohol above recommended limits in a single session.
• Harmful chronic alcohol use: Regularly drinking above recommended limits.

Planning a safe approach to alcohol allows you to enjoy your social life while minimizing potential negative consequences. Our services see individuals experiencing the harmful effects of excessive drinking, including health issues and impacts on studies. Understanding safe limits and planning ahead can help avoid these risks.

UK Recommended Safe Alcohol Limits:

The current UK guidelines advise limiting alcohol intake to 14 units per week for both women and men. This equates to no more than about 6 pints of average-strength beer or 7 medium glasses of wine per week.

Remember, these are maximum recommended limits, not targets. Drinking less is always healthier.

Binge Drinking: Consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period can be particularly harmful, even if your weekly intake seems within limits. Binge drinking is generally defined as consuming 8 or more units in a single session for men and 6 or more for women.

Resources for Healthy Alcohol Choices:

• Drinkaware Unit and Calorie Calculator: Use this helpful tool to understand the units and calories in your drinks. Unit and Calorie Calculator | Drinkaware
• Change4Life – Cutting Down Alcohol: Find useful tips and advice on reducing your alcohol intake. Healthier Families – Home – NHS

Seeking Further Support in Liverpool:

If you are concerned about your alcohol consumption and would like help cutting down, you can:

Make an appointment with a GP or nurse at our practice

We are here to support your health and well-being.