Northamptonshire and the East Midlands have low numbers who don't alcohol weekly

The figures are revealed as Drinkaware launch their Alcohol Awareness Week to promote healthier drinking habits

Author: Andrea FoxPublished 4th Jul 2024

New NHS figures reveal that Northamptonshire and the East Midlands has the lowest percentage of male adults who don't alcohol weekly.

Only 11% of men whilst 23% of women don't drink across the region.

Also 10% of women and 21% of men are also drinking a risky amount of more than 14 and up to 50 units a week.

While many wouldn’t bat an eye at regular visits to the dentist or the optometrist, new research from Drinkaware has revealed two thirds, (66%) of adult drinkers in the UK, an estimated 30 million people, have never been asked to check in on their drinking.

This Alcohol Awareness Week, the alcohol charity is urging Brits to take a quick and easy “Drinking Check” and ensure they are not putting their health at risk by unknowingly overconsuming – especially as the summer season and summer holidays come into full swing.

Available on their website, the Drinking Check is a simple tool to understand what impact alcohol may have on health as well as identifying potentially harmful habits. It also provides advice on how to have a healthier relationship with alcohol.

Sam Phillips started drinking at 13 and by 19 was consuming alcohol everyday - he's supporting the campaign, which is encouraging people to look at alcohol a different way.

"It's the only drug you can not take and people question you for it. 'Your not drinking? Why?' That's how accepted it is, so I think we just need to change the way we look at it a little bit and realise it's just as harmful, if not worse because of how accepted it is, than any other drug."

Studies have shown that it can effectively identify people with risky drinking behaviour and regular use can help Brits keep track of their consumption and stay within the Chief Medical Officer’s low risk guidelines of 14 units a week.

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