According to a recent survey by Alcohol Change 28% of current and former drinkers said they consumed more alcohol than usual during lockdown.
Excessive drinking can impact all areas of your life, not least your mental health. During these difficult times, it’s more important than ever to look after your mental well-being.
Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 takes place between 16 and 22 November. The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Alcohol and mental health’. With one in five Brits currently stating that they regularly drink above the recommended low-risk guidelines, the week provides an opportunity to reassess and transform our everyday drinking habits.
Around a quarter of people in England experience a mental health problem each year. Despite this high statistic, many of us are unaware of how drinking can impact our mental health. When we experience stress, anxiety and low moods, alcohol may be our first port of call. However, drinking can often harm our mental wellness in the long-run.
Alcohol is a depressant. Put simply, when we drink too much of it, it can interfere with the delicate balance of chemicals in our brains. So, once the short-term feeling of calm has worn off, drinking may lead to more long-term mental health problems.
Fortunately, Alcohol Awareness Week 2020 gives us the opportunity to rethink our relationship with drinking. Want to get involved? Whether you’re an individual, a group or an organisation, there are various ways to show your support for the campaign.
Supporting Alcohol Awareness Week 2020:
You can follow our find a new happy hour campaign which also provides many tips for reducing your alcohol intake and suggests alcohol-free ways to spend your time
Take part in online conversations using the hashtag #AlcoholAwarenesWeek
Have meaningful conversations with your family and loved ones about alcohol
Test your knowledge with an alcohol quiz online
Consider running an alcohol awareness campaign in your workplace
Learn more about alcohol misuse and support here
Learn more about mental health by visiting www.mind.org.uk
Gain an understanding of alcohol units with this NHS resource
For more information visit Alcohol Change's Alcohol Awareness Week page.