February 21, 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.
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.
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. For more information including the online calculator and handy hints and tips visit www.nhs.uk/change4life.
