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Alcohol

It's estimated that 10 million people are drinking more than the recommended units.

By drinking too much, you increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and several cancers later in life. You don't have to binge drink to be at risk - you just have to be drinking more than the recommended daily limits.

Champagne bottle

Are you drinking too much?

These short films highlight how easy it is to consume more than you think:

Responsible drinking for men

Responsible drinking for women

How much do you drink?

More interactive tools and advice on drinking can be found on the NHS Choices website.

Find services and alcohol advice in your area.

Drinkaware's website contains lots of practical advice on how you can have a great night out without it taking a turn for the worse.

Harmful drinking is drinking at levels that lead to significant harm to physical and mental health, for example liver damage, alcohol misuse and domestic violence. Women who regularly drink over 6 units a day and men who regularly drink over 8 units per day are at highest risk of alcohol related harm. Around 32% of men and 15% of women in the UK are harmful (or hazardous) drinkers.

Binge drinking is drinking too much alcohol over a short period of time, and leads to drunkenness. People who become drunk are much more likely to be involved in an accident or assault, contract a sexually transmitted disease and are more likely to have an unplanned pregnancy.

Leicestershire and Rutland alcohol strategies

Both Leicestershire and Rutland now have newly developed alcohol strategies, which have been developed in partnership with key organisations. Action plans and activities are now in place to deliver the strategies in localities. The overarching aim of the Leicestershire strategy is:

“To reduce the harm so that alcohol can safely and responsibly be enjoyed as part of a vibrant and inclusive society.”

The three key themes of the Leicestershire strategy are

Prevention
Community safety and
Treatment

Drinking in Leicestershire and Rutland

In Leicestershire and Rutland, it is estimated that there are 108,000 hazardous drinkers (ie men and women drinking over the recommended levels but who have so far avoided significant alcohol-related problems).

It is estimated that there are 22,000 harmful drinkers (ie women drinking over 35 units and men drinking over 50 units per week, who show some evidence of alcohol-related harm, which may be physical or mental). In addition, it is estimated that there are nearly 9,000 dependent drinkers.

There are approximately 94,304 binge drinkers in Leicestershire county and Rutland.

NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland is ranked 74 nationally with the proportion of binge drinkers (17.2%) slightly lower than national levels (18%).

(2003-2005 data)

Along with this the district and borough council crime and disorder partnerships are reporting high levels of young people drinking in public places in towns and villages.