Health commissioners are urging people to think about their alcohol consumption in the pre-Christmas party season.
NHS South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group will be supporting local pharmacies and treatment service providers during this time, offering information and advice whilst raising awareness of the campaign.
Alcohol now costs the NHS £3.5bn per year; equal to £120 for every taxpayer, and according to Alcohol Concern, one in eight NHS beds are used for alcohol related illnesses. In 2013/14, there were an estimated 1,059,210 hospital admissions related to alcohol consumption in the UK.
Dr Kevin Hill, chairman of NHS South Lincolnshire CCG, said: “The pre-Christmas party season can easily lead to binge drinking. You don’t have to be an alcoholic to risk damaging your health with alcohol. Regularly drinking just above recommended levels can still be harmful in the long term.
“NHS recommendations for lower risk drinking state that men should not exceed 3-4 units a day on a regular basis and women should not exceed 2-3 units a day on a regular basis.
“Visit NHS Choices to download a drinks tracker that will calculate the units in your drinks and offer daily tips and feedback. We don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun but it is important to think about alcohol consumption and its potential long term impact on health.
“If you are concerned about your drinking you can discuss it with your GP.”
