Summer time is the perfect time for getting outside and socialising.
After work drinks, birthday parties, Royal Ascot, BBQs, long afternoons in sunny pub gardens, sitting in a beach bar. The list goes on and on.
Whilst these are all great fun, and being outside soaking up the rays is a bonus, it often means your alcohol intake increases, without you even knowing it.
‘I love a cocktail after work on a Friday with the girls, but it often ends up being a more than just one’.
Jo
“I love to drink wine at lunch time and have a few more glasses at night when I am on holiday, something I just don’t do in the winter.”
Kate
‘Once you fire up the BBQ, the beers are cracked open and they just flow all night”.
Liz
Being aware of how many unit of alcohol is key to control your drinking and keep your health, well, healthy. The NHS recommends men and women should drink no more than 14 unit of alcohol a week and that these should be spread out over seven days .
If you aren’t sure what 14 units look like, it is about six pints of average strength beer or 10 small glasses of low strength wine.
Whilst a drink or two is fine, upping the units on a regular basis can be bad for your skin and liver. It can leave you feeling dehydrated, sluggish and wanting to eat the wrong kind of foods to compensate for having a hangover.
If you think you might be going over this limit, even a little, there are some easy steps to remedy the situation.
Set aside a couple of days a week as alcohol free zones. Maybe Sunday, Monday and Wednesday would work and on these days keep away for the bar and instead go to the gym, see a film with a friend or have a regular pamper night at home.
One really easy way to cut down the number of units you consume, is to dilute your drinks. A white wine spritzer with lots of ice or a cool shandy will last longer than your normal drink, taste great but cut the units and calories.
When drinking at home use a smaller glass, measure spirits and add ice.
When it comes to mixers, steer clear of sugar heavy fizzy drinks and opt for the slimline versions.
Alternate your drinks. For every glass of wine you drink, have a glass of water in between. Not only will this keep the units down, but will also stop you from becoming dehydrated, drunk and then hungover the next day.
By actually enjoying what you drink you will slow down. Cheap beer might make your bill look good but won’t do your health or waistline any favours, so sip on something that tastes great and your habits will soon change.
Ask yourself if you really need another drink. Many of us simply get into the habit of having one drink after another and we often don’t need ‘one for the road’ and regret it the next day.
If you’re in the pub, steer clear of rounds as this puts you under pressure to drink more than normal. Buying your own drinks also makes it easier to alternate an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic one without look like you are a cop out.
Keep a diary of how many units you drink. You might think you aren’t drinking that much but if you write it down you will soon get the real picture. You may also notice patterns and habits as well as triggers for drinking such as feeling stressed after a long day in the office or meeting up with certain friends.
Drinking and driving is a big no, so offer to be the designated driver for family or friends. This way you can’t over do it as you’d let others down and will have no option than to sticking to soft drinks for the evening.
Cutting down alcohol reduces the risks of alcohol-related cancers, diabetes and heart disease. It puts less pressure on the liver and helps you maintain a healthy weight and bank balance.
If you follow these guidelines we think you will start to notice a positive difference.