Now is the perfect time for people to look at how much they drink and plan a healthier 2009, says the British Liver Trust as New Year approaches.
New Year’s resolutions don’t need to be complicated, says the national charity for people with liver disease, but can herald a new, healthier you and prevent you becoming one of almost 14,000 who die from liver disease or the 33,000 who lose their lives to alcohol each year.
Most people drink above the guidelines for low-risk drinking at least once a week, according to recently released NHS Information Centre data. Despite millions of pounds spent by the Department of Health telling us about units of alcohol, people still do not have a clear idea about how much they can drink without risking their health.
Alison Rogers, Chief Executive of the British Liver Trust said:
“Taking a moment to count the number of units you are drinking is a great way to begin to take control of your life. Combine this with a healthier diet and the risks of life-threatening liver disease – cirrhosis, fatty liver and even liver cancer – are dramatically reduced.”
35% of men and 43% of women have heard of units but they don’t know what the recommendations actually are. It’s easy to remember – 2-3 units per day for women (one large (250ml) glass of wine is around 3 units) and 3-4 units for men (a pint of low strength beer or lager is about 2.3 units). In addition, 35% of men and 27% of women drink twice the recommended levels at least once a week and most of us believe that ‘drinking is a major part of the British way of life’, making it even more important we understand how much we are drinking and what the guidelines for low risk drinking are.
If you’re recovering from the excesses of Christmas, had a bit (or even a lot) too much to drink and eat and wondering why you did it, now is the time to start counting down for 2009.
Ends
For further information please contact (by mobile over the holiday period):
Imogen Shillito
Phone: 01425 481 320
Out of hours: 07939 960420
Email: pressoffice@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Email: Imogen.shillito@britishlivertrust.org.uk
Web: www.britishlivertrust.org.uk
British Liver Trust, 2 Southampton Road,
Ringwood, BH24 1HY
Editor’s Note:
1. The British Liver Trust is Britain’s only national liver disease charity for adults. We work to improve the lives of people suffering from liver disease with key roles in education, support and research.
2. Liver disease is one of the UK’s five ‘big killers’ and the only one on the rise. The Trust is working urgently to encourage prevention and investment in treatment and care for people with liver disease. Much of the increasing incidence of liver disease stems from lifestyle trends – relating to alcohol, obesity and viral hepatitis. However, liver disease has many other causes including genetics, abnormalities in the immune system and even the medicines we take. The Trust is working to raise awareness about the liver and combat the stigma associated with liver disease.
3. The Trust provides a comprehensive website www.britishlivertrust.org.uk, free medical helpline – 0800 652 7330, and distributes a wide range of information leaflets to individuals and healthcare professionals. In addition, the Trust is a contact point for support groups nationwide, as well as co-ordinating funding and providing support for research.
4. The Health Survey for England was published on 16 December 2008 and more information can be found at this link: http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse07healthylifestyles. The figures state that 59% of men and 55% of women exceed the guideline amounts of alcohol on at least one day a week. 35% of men and 27% of women had drunk over twice the guideline amounts the previous week, classified as a ‘binge drink’.
When asked about measuring their intake of alcohol, most adults (92%of men and 89%of women) had heard of units. However, there was less knowledge of the recommended maximum daily intake; 35% of men and 47% of women had heard of units but said they didn’t know what the recommendations were for men, and 39% ofmen and 43% of women similarly knew about units but said they did not know the recommendations for women. Those who attempted to define the recommendations were more likely to be wrong than right. |