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Have fun this
Christmas - but don't let the spirit spoil it!
At
this time of year we are all really looking forward to the
Christmas and New Year celebrations which are usually packed
with parties and endless nights out socialising with friends
over drinks.
These
occasions can be great fun and very enjoyable but we should
try to remember that alcohol is a powerful drug that can either
make or break the festivities.
Research
carried out by the Health Promotion Agency shows seven out
of ten adults in Northern Ireland drink alcohol. We also know
that binge drinking is a significant part of the alcohol culture
here. With this in mind the Health Promotion Agency has produced
a leaflet, Focus
on alcohol: A guide to drinking and health, for everyone
who wants to drink to be aware of the safe drinking message
over Christmas without being a killjoy.
Rob
Phipps, Senior Health Promotion Manager for the Health Promotion
Agency said: "Many of us do most of our drinking in a few
sessions - usually on a Friday or Saturday night. This pattern
of binge drinking over a number of years can have long-term
effects on our health, such as, damage to the liver, heart,
brain and especially with spirits, the stomach.
"It
can also increase the risk of some cancers, such as in the
liver and stomach, and binge drinking among young men can
increase the risk of strokes. There can be social costs such
as fights, disturbances, accidents and additional workload
for the A&E departments of hospitals.
Rob
continued: "We have a clear message about alcohol. Used sensibly
alcohol can enhance social occasions, however, binge drinking
and over indulgence at Christmas can so easily spoil things
for everyone and can also damage your health.
"This
leaflet outlines what constitutes a unit of alcohol and the
recommended limits for alcohol intake, and it provides clear
information about how to keep within these. It also contains
facts about alcohol and pregnancy, drinking and driving, why
alcohol affects women more than men, as well as a list of
organisations to contact for further information. We hope
everyone has an enjoyable Christmas and this leaflet has been
produced to help them to do just that!"
Almost
200,000 leaflets will be available throughout Northern Ireland
from health boards and trusts as well as pharmacies, GP surgeries
and a number of voluntary organisations.
END
Notes
to the editor: Binge
drinking is when a male has 10+ units in a single session
or when a woman has 7+ units in a single session. 1 unit =
½ pint of lager / ½ pint of cider.
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