Alcohol – Know Your Limits

Alcohol – Know Your Limits

This leaflet will give you information about alcohol units and how to calculate how
much you are drinking. It is aimed to help you avoid further problems with alcohol in
the future.

How much is too much?
Recommended safer drinking limits…

Men: 3-4 units alcohol per day (maximum 21 units in a week)

Women: 2-3 units alcohol per day (maximum 14 units in a week). Avoid alcohol
when trying for a baby or during pregnancy.

Know your units… how much do you dink in a typical week?

Alcopop bottle (275ml) 5% =1.4 units

Single shot (25ml) spirit = 1 unit

1 small glass wine (125ml) 12% = 1.5 units

1 large glass wine (250ml) 12% = 3 units

1 pint of premium strength lager 5.2% = 3 units

1 pint of cider = 3.4 units

A bottle of 12% wine = 9 units

What are the health issues associated with alcohol?

Alcohol can affect every organ in the body, not just the liver.

Men who regularly drink more than 6 units (2 pints strong lager) every day:

• are more than 3 times more likely to get mouth cancer
• could be 3 times more likely to have a stroke

Women who regularly drink 2 large glasses of wine (6.5 units) every day:

• are twice as likely to have high blood pressure
• are 50% more likely to get breast cancer

Short Term

• Falls, accidents and injuries from fights, sexual and physical assaults
• Antisocial behaviour
• Sexual problems and impotence
• Fatal alcohol poisoning
• Coma and choking on your vomit

Long Term

• Addiction
• Poor skin, thread veins, brittle hair and nails, and weight gain
• Relationship breakdown and debt
• Liver disease

• Many different cancers
• Heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke
• Poor sleep
• Mental health problems – depression, anxiety, memory loss and dementia
• Weakened immune system causing more frequent and serious infections

Around 9000 people die from alcohol related causes each year in the UK.
Alcohol induced liver disease accounts for over half of all the liver disease in
the UK.

Drinking and Driving poses a risk of serious injury and death to yourself and other
road users. The body takes ONE HOUR to process ONE UNIT of alcohol and so you
may still be over the limit the morning after a night if heavy drinking.

How would I know that my drinking is a problem?
Answer either yes or no to each of these questions. Over the past year:

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
2. Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?
3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get
   rid of a hangover?

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, please seek help as you may
be at an increased risk of problem drinking or alcoholism.

If you are physically dependent on alcohol, suddenly cutting down or stopping
completely can cause withdrawal symptoms, some of which are potentially life
threatening. A planned withdrawal or detoxification with the help of a healthcare
professional can help you to stop drinking safely.

Mixing drugs with alcohol carries greater risks. If your night out includes drug use, go
to www.talktofrank.com or consider calling Worcestershire drug link.

Where can I get expert information and treatment?
You can talk to your GP, practice nurse or hospital doctor or nurse.

Drugs and Alcohol Misuse Service – ‘Pathways to Recovery’
0808 178 3295
Worcester: 01905 721020
Kidderminster: 01562 823211
Redditch: 01527 61010

Alcoholics Anonymous
0121 211 0111
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Drinkline: National Alcohol Helpline
0800 917 8282

Other Helpful Websites:
www.drinksafely.info
www.units.nhs.uk
www.drinkaware.co.uk
www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you and your loved
ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a member of staff on the ward or
in the relevant department who will do their best to answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well and where
improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your experience with us including
completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are available and can be posted on all wards,
departments and clinics at our hospitals. We value your comments and feedback and thank you for
taking the time to share this with us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the nurse in charge
or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed to answer any questions or
resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is unable to help resolve your concern, you
can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital
services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf, if you feel
unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate your
concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can advise and guide
you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PALS@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that
you may need to leave a voicemail message, but we aim to return your call within one working day.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

For additional medical advice, if your symptoms or condition worsens:

• Contact your GP
• NHS 111: Telephone 111
• Get help with your symptoms, NHS111:https://111.nhs.uk/
• Information to help you manage your health: www.nhs.uk
• In an emergency telephone 999

Emergency Department (A&E)
Alexandra Hospital
Woodrow Drive
Redditch B98 7UB
Tel: 01527 512030

Minor Injury Unit
Kidderminster Hospital
Bewdley Road
Kidderminster DY11 6RJ
Tel: 01562 513039

Emergency Department (A&E)
Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester WR5 1DD
Tel: 01905 760743

Version 1