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A Drop Too Far 2010
A Drop too far - Enjoy your St Patrick's Day Celebration!
The Public Health Agency Western Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team in partnership with the five Western Community Safety Partnerships are encouraging people to enjoy their St Patrick's Day celebrations sensibly this year and to consider the impact of their drinking on people close to them.
Pubs and clubs in the Western area will receive beer mats with a difference this year - one that reminds them to be sensible and details sensible drinking guidelines. Welcoming the initiative, Gavin Duffy Chairperson of Limavady Community Safety Partnership commented: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to once again work with the Western Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team to highlight this key message in respect of alcohol abuse and to target further resources at the successful Drop Too Far campaign."
St Patrick's Day is a time to celebrate and have a drink with your family and friends. However, over the years the strength of popular drinks has increased and glass sizes have grown. Many people are unaware that a large glass of wine can contain as many as three units. Many people are regularly drinking at levels that could put them at increased risk of harm to their health and their personal relationships without realising it.
Binge drinking for a man is drinking ten or more units of alcohol in one session (as little as five pints of normal strength beer) and for a woman is drinking seven or more units of alcohol in one session (e.g. 3 small pub-sized bottles of wine). If people binge drink on a regular basis, even just one day a week, they are increasing the risk of serious health problems such as high blood pressure, increased risk of strokes, heart problems and a range of cancers.
Yvonne McWhirter, Chairperson of Western Drug and Alcohol Co-ordination Team stated: "Binge drinking, a cultural problem in Northern Ireland, is not just a problem with our younger people, but within the whole of the adult population. Invariably when we look at our own drinking we do not acknowledge it as an issue in this context, as we always know someone who drinks more than us. It is therefore important for all people who drink alcohol to be responsible and aware of the impact that binge drinking can have on their health, their family and the wider community."
Remember, that for each unit you drink over the daily limit, the risk to your health increases. It is important to spread the units throughout the week - you cannot "save up" your units for the weekend or a party. To track the units in your favourite drinks visit www.knowyourlimits.info
Ways to find the balance
* Reduce your units by choosing drinks that are not so strong
* Avoid "top-ups" so that you can keep track of your units
* Drink water between each alcoholic drink
* Have an alcohol free day
