How much do you really drink?

ALCOHOL has always been at the heart of British culture and the list of reasons for having a drink is seemingly endless. We’ll have a pint to unwind after a hard day at the office or a glass of wine if the children have been particularly troublesome. We drink to celebrate or to drown our sorrows. 

If we socialise it’s almost inevitable that booze will be involved. There’s a perception that drinking alcohol and having fun go hand in hand.

Images of teens staggering through our towns tend to grab the attention but studies show binge drinking among young people is declining sharply.

There is a growing problem among the middle-aged and professionals. “The way we drink has changed,” says Dr James Nicholls, research manager for Alcohol Research UK.

“We’re consuming a lot more alcohol at home, especially wine.

“It’s become a socially acceptable everyday habit but the problems are less visible. We all know how bad a hangover feels but if you’re drinking regularly the long-term impact on your health is less obvious.”

It’s estimated 10 million Britons drink more than the safe recommended limits. Alcohol-related deaths rose by 20 per cent over the past decade.

If you drink regularly, even if you don’t feel drunk, the chances of several types of cancer, stroke, heart disease and liver disease all increase.

That’s not to mention disturbed sleep patterns, low mood, weight gain and poor concentration.

According to new research even a daily drink raises the risk of breast cancer in women. Professor Mark Bellis, director of the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, says: “There is a substantive amount of breast cancer associated with what is often called ‘sensible drinking’, when people do not even think they are taking a risk.”

Dr Nicholls says: “The units soon creep up. Alcohol for home consumption has become more affordable. You’ll often see alcohol special offers at the end of supermarket aisles so it’s tempting to throw a bottle or two of wine into your shopping basket.”

Because drinking is a regular habit and plays such an important role in our lives many of us have no idea how much alcohol we’re consuming, both at home and while out socialising.

“Many people underestimate how much they drink,” says Dr Nicholls, who recommends keeping a diary of a typical week. We asked one middle-aged professional to keep his own record.

Robert Hendy, 55, from Chipping Sodbury, Gloucs, is a semi-retired building site supervisor. He enjoys shooting, meeting friends at his local and keeps fit at the gym and by cycling.

The Government advises that people should not regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of three to four units of alcohol for men and two or three units of alcohol for women.

Half a pint of average strength beer, a single measure of spirits or a 175ml glass of wine all contain about one unit.

Robert kept a diary of his alcohol consumption over two weeks.

The first shows his typical drinking habits, in the second he tried to cut down by using a few simple tips.

 
                            Robert  Hendy enjoys a pint at his local