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Drink

At Crawley Wellbeing we believe in a healthy balance where enjoying a glass of wine or pint of lager is not a crime. If however you think you may be exceeding 'safe' limits we would like to help you reduce your alcohol intake to one that will not harm you.

Why not start out by taking some easy self-assessment tests to find out more? Click on the button below:

click the button to take self-assessment tests

How does alcohol affect you?

From the second you take your first sip, alcohol starts affecting your body and mind. After one or two drinks you may start feeling more sociable, but drink too much and basic human functions, such as walking and talking become much harder. You might also start saying things you don't mean and behaving out of character. Some of alcohol's effects disappear overnight - while others can stay with you a lot longer, or indeed become permanent.

Health

The short term health risks of alcohol include:

Drinking heavily also increases your calorie intake, and it is frequently associated with obesity. This in turn leads to increased health risks. Adding 3 or 4 units per day to your usual diet would lead to an increase in weight of around 4lbs in four weeks.

The good news is that the short term effects of drinking are reversible. When you reduce your drinking, the symptoms improve.

In the long term, alcohol can contribute to a variety of problems, including damage to an unborn child, liver disease, osteoporosis (thinning of the bones), pancreatitis, stomach ulcers, infertility, heart disease, raised blood pressure, stroke, dementia and brain damage.

It can also lead to an increased risk of a variety of cancers, particularly breast cancer and cancer of the gullet. It is also frequently associated with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

On the Drinkaware website you'll find useful clinically approved facts and information about the effects of alcohol on your life and lifestyle designed to help you make positive decisions about your drinking.

What kind of alcohol do you drink?

It doesn't matter whether you take it in cocktails, beer, wine, cider or lager, it's the alcohol that counts. Alcohol affects all kinds of cells in the body, causing changes in some and stopping others from working properly. As with most 'poisons', the more you take, the worse the effects are.

There are several organisations offering free help and advice, some local and some national. If you are wanting to take the first step but are unsure where to go to first, please either pick up the phone or complete the online enquiry form - we are here to help you.

ContactsTelephone Website
Crawley Addaction - Addaction is the UK's biggest drug & alcohol treatment charity and their services are both confidential and free.Tel: 01293 657015www.addaction.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous - a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking.Tel: 0845 76 97 555www.aa-uk.org.uk
Drinkline - free national alcohol helplineTel: 0800 9178282
AlAnonConfidential - helpline and local self help support groups for individuals affected by someone else's drinking.Tel: 020 7403 0888www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Alcohol Concern - the national agency on alcohol misuse. Provides information and encourages debate on the wide range of public policy issues affected by alcohol; including public health, housing, children and families, crime and licensing. Support specialist and non-specialist service providers helping to tackle alcohol problems at a local level, whilst also working to influence national alcohol policy.Tel: 020 7928 7377www.alcoholconcern.org
Drinkaware aims to change the UK's drinking habits for the better. We promote responsible drinking and find innovative ways to challenge the national drinking culture to help reduce alcohol misuse and minimise alcohol-related harm.Onlinewww.drinkaware.co.uk