Alcohol Misuse

What counts as drinking too much?

Doctors recommend that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. To put this in perspective:

• Half a pint of normal-strength beer = 1 unit
• A small glass of wine (125ml) = 1.5 units
• A single measure of spirits (25ml) = 1 unit

If you do drink 14 units a week, it's better to spread this over at least 3 days rather than drinking it all at once.

How alcohol can harm your health immediately

Drinking too much alcohol can cause problems straight away:

• Accidents and injuries that need hospital treatment
• Risky behaviour that puts you in danger
• Unprotected sex leading to unwanted pregnancy or infections
• Alcohol poisoning - this can cause vomiting, fits and losing consciousness
• Loss of belongings like your wallet, keys or phone

People who binge drink (drinking lots in a short time) are much more likely to have accidents or behave recklessly.

Long-term health problems

Regular heavy drinking over time increases your risk of serious conditions:

• Heart disease and stroke
• Liver disease and liver cancer
• Bowel, mouth and breast cancer
• Problems with your pancreas
• Brain damage affecting memory and thinking

Long-term alcohol problems can also affect your relationships, work and housing situation.

Signs you might be drinking too much

You might have a problem with alcohol if:

• You feel you should cut down on drinking
• Other people criticise your drinking
• You feel guilty about how much you drink
• You need a drink first thing in the morning

Someone you know might have a problem if they regularly drink more than 14 units a week, can't remember what happened when drinking, or miss work or appointments because of alcohol.

When alcohol becomes addictive

Some people become dependent on alcohol (alcoholism). This means they have lost control over their drinking and feel they must drink.

If someone who drinks heavily suddenly stops, they might experience:

• Shaking hands
• Sweating
• Seeing things that aren't there
• Feeling down or anxious
• Trouble sleeping

These symptoms often lead people to drink more to feel better, creating a cycle that's hard to break.

Getting help

If you're worried about your drinking or someone else's, speak to your GP. They can assess your situation and discuss treatment options.

Help is also available from:

• Drinkline (national alcohol helpline): 0300 123 1110
• Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650
• Al-Anon Family Groups (for families): 0800 0086 811

Treatment options

Treatment depends on how much someone drinks and might include:

• Counselling and talking therapies
• Medicine to help with withdrawal symptoms
• Medicine to reduce the urge to drink
• Support to safely reduce drinking gradually

Pregnancy and alcohol

If you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, the safest approach is to avoid alcohol completely. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby, and the risk increases with the amount you drink.

Remember: If you're concerned about alcohol use during pregnancy, speak to your GP or midwife.

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Based on NHS.uk guidance. Written by Dr Krishnan Pasupathi, NHS GP.