Should I reduce my alcohol consumption?
It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly when alcohol consumption stops being a fun part of our social schedule and becomes a more dangerous habit. People consider reducing their alcohol intake for a wide variety of reasons. You might want to:
enhance your sporting performance
improve your health
protect your relationships
Perhaps you’re comfortable with the amount that you consume, but want to better understand your drinking habits.. Whatever your starting point, read on to gain a clearer awareness of your relationship with alcohol, and how it might be improved.
How much alcohol is it ok to drink each week?
Any amount of alcohol increases your risk of physical, emotional, and social health problems. However, following these NHS guidelines can help you to reduce your risk of alcohol misuse:
People of all genders should drink a maximum of 14 units a week (one unit equals approximately half a pint of beer)
These units should be spread over at least three days
If you’re trying to drink less, aim to have a few alcohol-free days each week
Signs that you might be drinking too much
It can be difficult to keep track of exactly how many units you’re drinking. How else can you know if you’re at risk of alcohol abuse? There are a few signs to look out for:
Friends and family have expressed concern about your drinking
You drink heavily when alone, and have become secretive about your drinking habits
You struggle to cut down your alcohol consumption
You’ve faced problems at home and at work because of your drinking
You’re experiencing symptoms of alcohol addiction (excessive sweating, recurring headaches, irritability, confusion, interrupted sleep)
If any of these feel familiar, try taking the drinkaware self-assessment. It helps you to pinpoint your drinking habits, and points you towards further support.
To help you monitor your drinking more consistently, Alcohol Change UK has developed the Dry app. It allows you to track your alcohol consumption and how it affects your finances, mood, energy levels, and much more.
Understand your body and your relationship to alcohol
A blood test gives you an even more in-depth understanding of how your drinking habits are affecting your physical health. At Orchard, we offer an alcohol profile which tells you:
your blood alcohol level at the time of the test
how well your liver is functioning, and if there are any signs of damage
the quality of your red blood cells
It also detects any excessive alcohol use over the previous 2-4 weeks - helpful if you need to prove that you haven’t been drinking too much.
This quick, easy blood test can help you to understand how your alcohol consumption is affecting your long-term health. Alongside your clinician, you can use the results to determine whether you want to cut down on your drinking, or even stop altogether.