Alcohol

Alcohol misuse is when you drink in a way that’s harmful, or when you’re dependent on alcohol. To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, both men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week.

• Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – a widely used screening test that can help determine whether you need to change your drinking habits
• Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test Consumption – a simpler test to check whether your drinking has reached dangerous levels

If you are worried you are drinking too much and need support, you can self refer to GDAS for confidential help here

We have also included some further reading and advice below

NHS 111 Wales – Living and Feeling Well : Alcohol

• Alcohol Change UK
• Alcoholics Anonymous – helpline 0800 9177 650
• Al-Anon Family Groups – helpline 0800 0086 811
• DAN 24/7 Wales Drug and Alcohol Helpline – 0808 808 2234

Alcohol drinking guidelines

There is no safe limit for drinking alcohol. Drinking even low amounts of alcohol increases the risk of diseases like cancer.

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.

If you regularly drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread your drinking evenly over 3 or more days. If you have one or two heavy drinking episodes a week, you increase your risks of death from long term illness and from accidents and injuries.

The risk of developing a range of health problems increases the more you drink on a regular basis.

If you wish to cut down the amount you drink, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.

Why is alcohol a problem in Wales?

45% of men and 34% of women report drinking above the recommended guidelines. Alcohol is the cause of around 1,500 deaths a year, on top of a cost of more than £1 billion of harm to society.

Alcohol related deaths are higher in the most deprived areas of Wales.

Growing up in families where alcohol or substance misuse is a problem can have negative impacts which persist long into adulthood.

14% of adults have been exposed to alcohol misuse during childhood. Reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences can reduce levels of harmful drinking by 35%.