Is drink sneaking up on you?

News Release
13/02/2012

That’s the question being asked by the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth PCT Cluster as it supports a brand new Change4life campaign which highlights that drinking slightly over the lower-risk alcohol guidelines can seriously impact long term health.

“We know that people are often unaware that drinking just a little bit more than recommended levels increases their risk from serious illness including heart disease, stroke and cancer,” Dr Ruth Milton, on behalf of the Directors of Public Health for the Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth PCT Cluster.

“It is easy to slip into the habit of having an extra one or two drinks each day, especially when drinking at home. The new campaign and its TV adverts highlight that regularly drinking around two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day can triple the risk of developing mouth cancer and double the risk of developing high blood pressure.”

A new national survey has revealed that most people in our region are unaware of the serious illnesses caused by drinking more than the NHS recommends. The survey highlighted that among residents in the South East region:

• 85% did not realise it increases the risk of developing breast cancer

• 68% did not realise it increases the risk of bowel cancer

• 61% did not realise it increases the chance of pancreatitis

• 60% did not realise it increases the risk of mouth, throat and neck cancer

• 31% did not realise it increases the risk of high blood pressure

• 37% did not realise it reduces fertility.

“The new online calculator available on the Change4Life website helps people to check how much they are drinking and work out whether they need to cut down. The website also has handy hints and tips on how to make changes – such as having booze free days, not drinking at home before going out, swapping to low-alcohol or alcohol free drinks and simply using smaller glasses,” Dr Milton explained.

Copies of the new ‘don’t let drink sneak up on you’ leaflet, which includes tips for handling alcohol on a night out, are being distributed across the region.

“It’s crucial we support people in our area to know how drinking too much poses risks to their health and how they can take control of their drinking,” Dr Milton concluded.

For more information including the online calculator and handy hints and tips visit www.nhs.uk/change4life.

For further information please contact the Communications Team on 023 8062 7461.

Notes

1.      The lower-risk alcohol guidelines are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.

2.      Drinking heavily regularly on just one or two days a week can also be harmful to your health in the long term.

3.      The campaign is running for six weeks from Sunday, February 5.  TV adverts will be shown in between popular evening programmes on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

4.      The survey was conducted by YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,123 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between December 9 and 12, 2011. The survey was carried out online.  The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults aged 18 years and above.

5.      To view ‘is drink sneaking up on you’ online, including the calculator, visit www.nhs.uk/change4life.

6.      To view a copy of the TV advert visit www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/change-for-life-adults.aspxcontact.