Poole Drug & Alcohol Action Team
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Information: Alcohol
Harm Minimisation
  It is estimated that one in 17 people in Great Britain are alcohol dependent.
 
The estimated annual bill for the NHS for alcohol abuse is £2.7 billion and according to the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for Substance Misuse alcohol addiction is rising twice as fast as that for cannabis.

It has been estimated that alcohol plays a part in 65% of suicides in the UK and extreme levels of drinking (i.e. more than 30 units a day for several weeks) can cause psychosis.

Heavy drinking can also mask anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.

Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to:
  • cirrhosis of the liver,
  • cancer of the breast, mouth and larynx,
  • depression,
  • suicide,
  • memory loss,
  • strokes,
  • diabetes,
  • pancreatitis,
  • alcohol related anaemia,
  • alcoholic hepatitis,
  • delirium tremens (sudden & severe mental changes such as seizures following alcohol withdrawal),
  • hallucinations,
  • gastritis,
  • fatal accidents,
  • sexually transmitted diseases
  • poor sexual performance (shrinking of the genitals and lowering of fertility).
 
Two pints of real ale
You can refer yourself to the SMART for an assessment by calling
01202 735777

One unit of alcohol = 10ml of pure alcohol.

You can calculate your units by following this link to Drinkaware or the NHS Choices Units page.

Alcohol also contains varying amounts of calories which many people are unaware of:
  • 1 pint of draft Guinness at 4.1% has 2.33 units and 210 calories.
  • 1 pint of Stella Artois at 5.2% has 2.95 units and 250 calories.
  • 1 pint of Scrumpy Jack cider at 6% has 3.41 units and 256 calories.
  • A 175ml glass of wine at 14.5% has 2.54 units
    • red: 119 calories
    • white: 130 calories
    • rose: 119 calories.
  • A 175ml glass of Champagne at 12% has 2.1units and 133 calories.
  • A 50ml measure of brandy at 40% has 2 units and 111 calories.
  • A 50ml measure of whiskey at 40% has two units and 111 calories.
  • Vodka based alco-pop 5.5% 75cl bottle has 4.13 units and 510 calories.
  • Rum based alco-pop at 4%, 75cl bottle has 3 units and 540 calories.