Lincolnshire support service warns many people are drinking too much without even realising

So called social drinking can be harmful

Woman drinking
Author: Andy MarshPublished 9th Dec 2024

A Lincolnshire alcohol support service has revealed their concerns about the number of people who drink well above recommended limits but don't realise the true impact.

The Recovery Partnership is warning many of us might not think we have a problem but actually so called social drinking can have a huge impact over time.

They're urging anyone who believes they have an issue to come forward.

The service often sees an increase just after Christmas and urges anyone who thinks they have issues to get in touch before then.

We spoke to Lucy Palmer from the service who told us about the problem and it's effects.

"It affects your memory - it affects your eyesight - it can affect your heart - your liver - I think that's the one many of us know about."

It might be they start off with a couple of glasses of wine - then it's a bottle and then 2 bottles

"You're more prone to a lot of the cancers."

"I could go on."

"I think sometimes people bury their heads in the sand about it ."

"I think people think - well I'm not as bad as that person - a lot of people are still functioning."

"They manage to go to work everyday and come home from work and it might be they start off with a couple of glasses of wine - then it's a bottle and then 2 bottles."

"Over the Christmas period people spend more time with family and it might be noticed that they're drinking a bit too much so we get a lot of calls in the new year."

"We use this word called drink sandwiches - that means one alcoholic drink - one non alcoholic drink - maybe alternating between the two."

"Maybe try a lower percentage of alcoholic drinks - add in lots of mixers to spirits."

"There are plenty of activities that don't involve drinking - going to the cinema - going for nice walks. "

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