FRIDAY, 8 NOVEMBER, 2019

For immediate release.

Know your limits this Alcohol Awareness Week

NHS Tayside is hosting information stands across Dundee and Angus to support Alcohol Awareness Week which runs from 11 to 17 November 2019.

Led by Alcohol Change UK, the theme for this year’s event is ‘Alcohol and Me’. The week aims to highlight the impact that alcohol can have on our bodies, our lives and those we love. It also highlights that by making changes to our drinking behaviour we can become healthier and reduce the risk for many serious health conditions including cancer, mental health problems, and liver disease.

NHS Tayside Public Health team is working with partners including Dundee and Angus Alcohol and Drugs Partnerships, Tayside Council for Alcohol and Addaction to raise awareness of the Scottish Government’s Chief Medical Officers lower risk drinking guidelines through a series of information stalls across Dundee and Angus during the week.

Laura Henderson, Senior Health Promotion Officer with NHS Tayside said, “Understanding the risks of drinking too much is an important first step in helping us drink more healthily. Yet it is estimated that 73% of people are unaware of the official low-risk drinking guidelines, meaning that the vast majority do not have the information they need to make informed choices about their drinking.

“People should try not to exceed the recommended guidelines of 14 units a week.  Any drinking of alcohol should be spread throughout the week and you should make sure to have two or three alcohol free days if possible.

“To help raise awareness of the guidelines, our information stalls will have posters and leaflets along with unit measure cups, interactive drinks calculators, digital resources and our pour a drink challenge.

The information stands are being held in the following locations:

• Monday 11 November – 12.30-6pm – Overgate Shopping Centre

• Tuesday 12 November – 12.30-3.30pm – Ninewells Hospital Concourse

• Wednesday 13 November – Perth Royal Infirmary Health Shop

• Wednesday 13 November – 11.30am-1.30pm - Whitehills Community Hospital, Forfar

• Thursday 14 November – 12-2pm – DUSA student union

• Thursday 14 November – 10am onwards – drop-in, TCA

• Thursday 14 November – morning – Links Health Centre, Montrose

• Monday 18 November – 2-3.30pm - Academy Medical Centre, Forfar

• All week – Information Stand, Whitehills Community Hospital, Forfar

If you are concerned about your or someone else’s drinking, try to get help. Talk to a friend, or your GP. For free, confidential advice on alcohol and how you can reduce your intake call Drinkline Scotland on 0800 7 314 314, visit www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/alcohol or contact a local service, details of which can be found on www.aliss.org or www.angus.gov.uk/ADP

Notes to editors:

• In Tayside, approximately 29% of men and 13% of women drink alcohol at levels that are considered hazardous or harmful (over 14 units per week).

• Dundee has high levels of alcohol- related harm. In 2018, there were 1757 alcohol-related A&E attendance by Dundee City residents.

• 46% of violent crime in Scotland is alcohol- related

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718