Understanding Alcohol Harm

Alcohol Awareness Week is a chance for the UK to get thinking about drinking, it starts on the 1st July 2024 and is a week of raising awareness about the impact of alcohol on health, society, and personal well-being, as well as campaigning for change, and more. The theme this year is Understanding Alcohol Harm. It serves as an opportunity for individuals and communities to learn about the risks that are associated with excessive alcohol consumption, the benefits of reducing alcohol intake, and the support that is widely available for those struggling with alcohol dependency.

Alcohol is harming people's health and wellbeing on a daily basis, from the quality of the sleep, to relationships with loved ones, to careers and finances. Each year, thousands of people experience long-term health problems as a result of the alcohol they drink, or die from alcohol-related causes.

Alcohol dependency, or alcoholism, refers to people with a powerful and uncontrollable urge to drink excessively. This can result in being unable to properly function without drinking and eventually, drinking alcohol can become the most important thing in a person’s life. There is no one trigger or reason for alcoholism.

Alcohol Awareness Week aims to promote healthier lifestyles and provide a better understanding of alcohol-related issues. It is hoped that this week offers people the opportunity to have open discussions with family, friends and colleagues to help reduce the silence surrounding alcoholism.

When supporting those with alcohol problems, it is important to approach the matter with sensitivity, compassion, and understanding. There are addiction support services and organisations across the country that can offer help and advice, and guidance to those not only suffering but their loved ones who are affected by it too.