Drinking doubts
Question
On average, I drink once every two to three days. Am I likely to develop health problems in the future?
Answer
Sometimes it is difficult to know when you are drinking so much that it will affect your health. A good first step for you might be to find out more about the risks and effects of alcohol. This will give you an idea of what to look out for in terms of how your drinking could affect your future health.
Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs. Since drinking is an accepted part of having a social life, it can often be hard for alcohol abusers to realise when they've crossed the line from social use to dependency. Any health problems arising from your drinking would depend on a variety of factors, including how much you drink. It might be useful for you to keep track of how many alcohol units you consume per week, to get an idea of how much your drinking could impact on your health.
If you'd like help in reducing the amount you drink, Down Your Drink is an online, six-week programme that can help you judge if you're drinking too much and find out ways to cut down. If you're concerned about your health, you could get advice from your local doctor (GP), or you could call NHS Direct on 0845 4647. You could also contact Drinkline for information and advice on all aspects of alcohol use and abuse by calling 0800 917 8282.
Updated: 12/04/2010
Question answered by Addaction
