Think about drink this long weekend

Think about drink this long weekend

With the Six Nations drawing to an end, the Formula 1 season blasting off and St Patrick’s Day celebrations swinging into action, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on people to bear in mind their alcohol consumption as they enjoy themselves over the long weekend.

Owen O’Neill, the PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol Lead, said: “Most people will be looking forward to a weekend of fun, so we are just asking people to keep an eye on how much they are drinking and to make sure that alcohol does not spoil the holiday for themselves or others.

“Binge drinking can have lasting effects on your health, such as damage to the liver, heart, brain and stomach, so we want people to take personal responsibility for their drinking and to set limits for themselves.

“It is also important to remember that alcohol can have an impact on your mental wellbeing as there is a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and hangovers can often leave you feeling anxious and low.

“People may be tempted to ‘drown the shamrock to drown their sorrows’, but if you are already feeling down, drinking can make it worse, so cutting down may put you in a better mood generally.

“Drinking can also affect your sleep. Although it can help some people fall asleep quickly, it can also disrupt your sleep patterns and stop you from sleeping deeply which in turn, can add to your feelings of low mood.”

Top tips

If you do decide to drink over the long weekend, follow these simple tips:

• alternate each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic drink, for example water or a soft drink;
• take frequent five-minute breaks from drinking to give your body time to recover;
• have something to eat before you start drinking to slow down the absorption of alcohol;
• avoid drinking in rounds or having a kitty as this may make you drink more;
• keep track of your drinks and don’t let anyone top-up your drink until it’s finished;
• if you are a man, it is recommended that you drink no more than three to four units of alcohol a day (i.e. two pints of standard beer) and no more than 21 units over the course of the week;
• if you are a woman, it is recommended that you drink no more than two to three units of alcohol a day (i.e. a 175ml glass of wine) and no more than 14 units over the course of the week.

For further information on sensible drinking and alcohol units visit the Public Health Agency’s website www.knowyourlimits.info

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