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Women and Alcohol - Shocking Statistics

women_drinking_wine.jpgThe latest statistics on women and alcohol are shocking – but what do they actually mean? The Office for National Statistics says 2% of women aged 16 to 24 drink everyday, but the figure doubles for women aged 25 to 44 and doubles again for those over 45. Whether you are a stressed Mum drinking at home, a career woman at a bar after work, or in front of the TV with a bottle of wine, drinking more than your daily unit guidelines, whatever your age, can have serious health consequences.

Even in small amounts, alcohol affects women differently to men and studies suggest that women appear be more prone to liver disease, hepatitis and breast cancer. Alcohol can also affect your chances of conceiving a child. As well as serious health risks, women who drink heavily are also putting themselves at risk of a range of health and personal problems, including depression, disturbed sleep and compromised personal safety.

Reducing the risks
Drinkaware advises that women stick to the recommended guidelines of 2-3 units per day – the equivalent of a 175ml glass of wine or 3 single vodkas. So whether you’ve just put the kids to bed or you’re meeting your friends down the pub, try to stick to the unit guidelines, avoid drinking on an empty stomach and rehydrate with plenty of water.

Even if you don’t drink all week, you cannot ‘save up’ your units and then drink them all in one night.

Drinking more than the recommended daily limit is potentially dangerous.  Drinking more than twice your daily limit (six units for women and 8 units for men) on any one drinking occasion qualifies as a ‘binge’. 
 
If you are pregnant or trying to conceive, it is best to avoid drinking altogether. If you do choose to drink, restrict your intake to no more than one or two units once or twice per week.
 
If you think you may be drinking above the sensible limits, you should try to take some steps to reduce your consumption.

Some suggestions include:
Make a deliberate decision about how to avoid drinking too much when you are in a potentially heavy drinking situation, either at home or when you are out with friends, at a restaurant, pub or wine bar.

Look online for more information- the tips and tools at www.drinkaware.co.uk or www.downyourdrink.org.uk are good places to start.

Call Drinkline, the national 24-hour helpline, on 0800 917 82 82.
 
Make an appointment to see your GP or your practice nurse.

To calculate the units in your favourite drink and to find out it’s calorie content visit: www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/
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