Alcohol Awareness Week 2021
The aim of Alcohol Awareness Week (15th to 21st of November 2021) is to ensure people across the country have a better knowledge around alcohol, can make more informed choices about their drinking, feel able to seek support if they need it (for their own or someone else’s drinking) and are better able to support those who may be struggling.
This years theme is Alcohol and Relationships
Alcohol and Relationships
Many of us drink alcohol for a variety of ever-changing reasons, for example, to relax, socialise, deal with feelings of loneliness, or avoid problems.
But drinking too much and too often can cause or exacerbate all sorts of problems with our physical and mental health, including damaging relationships with our loved ones. It can heighten family tensions, get in the way of clear communication, and mean we are less present for each other, including our children.
For some of us, alcohol can become a central aspect of relationships with friends, family or partners. This can stop us from taking action to improve our drinking habits, even when those habits aren’t working for us.
And if a loved one is drinking heavily, it can cause huge worry. There is also a real risk of someone’s drinking causing serious conflict, with alcohol being a factor in many cases of child neglect and domestic abuse.
Alcohol is also strongly associated with mental health problems like anxiety and depression. Over the course of the pandemic these problems have undoubtedly got worse for many of us.
As we return to a more normal life, there will be new pressures too – pressures to drink, sober shaming (being made to feel not drinking is wrong), and the pressures we put on ourselves to get back to ‘normal’ socialising.
But by taking control of our drinking, we can see better, happier relationships, as well as improved health and wellbeing.
For more information about alcohol and relationships, specifically how alcohol can affect use and those we love, click here to view a fact sheet relating to this.
Tips For Healthier Drinking and Happier Relationships…
Talk It Over – if you’re having problems or something is playing on your mind, it’s good advice to talk things through when both or you are sober – don’t wait until one or both of you has started drinking
Commit To Cutting Down – The UK’s Chief Medical Officers recommended not drinking more than 14 units a week; that means about six pints of lager or a bottle and a half of wine. Take this Alcohol Quiz to see if you know how much is too much.
Keep Track Of Your Drinking – Recording what you drink for a few weeks will help you understand your drinking pattern so that you can decide if you want to make a change. Use a free app, like Try Dry to keep track of your drinking and set goals to help you cut down. Or use Alcohol Change’s Unit Calculator to calculate if you are drinking too much.
Go Alcohol-Free For A Month – Take time off your drinking by having a Dry January or other alcohol-free break. It’s a great way to reassess your relationship with alcohol, and have some sober fun with your loved ones.
Ask For Help – Ask for help if you feel you need it, or if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking. Lots of us struggle with alcohol at some point in our lives and need support to turn things around. Talk to your GP or your local alcohol service, or visit the Alcohol Change UK website to find out more about getting support.
Get Relationship Support – If your drinking is negatively affecting you or your relationships, get support from Relate. You can access counselling on your own or as a couple.
Find Out More…
Alcohol Change UK have created some useful factsheets to help you further understand the effects alcohol has not only on your relationships, but you as a whole. Follow the links below to download factsheets to find out more:
- Alcohol and your mental health
- Alcohol and parenting
- Alcohol and sex
- Alcohol and families
- Alcohol in the workplace
- I think my parent drinks too much
- Setting up a family support group
- Families affected by harmful drinking
- A list of family support services
- Parents who drink too much
- Am I drinking too much?
Local Support
If you’re looking to access local support to help you cut down on drinking, click here to find out more.
