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Ditch the booze in favour of positive health and well-being as you head into 2016

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Following the over indulgence of Christmas and the tightening of the drinking guidelines by the UK’s Chief Medical Officers, health experts across Sefton are promoting positive health and well-being as the way to banish the January blues and head into 2016.

The new guidelines, based on recommendations from a group of independent experts, outline a maximum weekly intake of no more than 14 units of alcohol if both men and women want to keep health risks to a low level.

Residents are now being urged to put back those festive favourite tipples, lock the drinks cabinet and take up the Dry January challenge as the first step towards a longer term cut in their alcohol intake and a healthier, happier future.

Dr Craig Gillespie, local GP and NHS South Sefton CCG chair, said: “We really encourage Dry January and I know a lot of people are ready for it after the festivities of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It has been proven that after taking part many people have more energy, get more sleep and many cut down on alcohol in the months ahead so it does have its benefits.”

The North West Coast Academic Health Science Network (NWC AHSN) has produced an online app called ‘Psst‘ to support the campaign and is asking businesses to encourage staff to ditch the drink in the new year. They are offering businesses a free campaign pack to engage with staff and Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign.

Everton FC is one of the first organisations to join the campaign. Former player Ian Snodin who is already signed up, said: “I did Dry January last year and I will be definitely be doing it again this year. The first few days were a bit of a struggle but I was determined not to waiver, despite some teasing from the lads! During the month I felt a lot better too and I think my body is better off for doing it.”

Alcohol Concern’s aim is to start conversations about alcohol by encouraging people to go dry for the 31 days of January. Dry January is a chance to lose weight, feel better, save money and make a difference. Even if people cannot give up completely, cutting down is associated with many health benefits.

Latest figures from 2013 show there were 2,620 deaths attributed to alcohol in the North West. In Merseyside, Lancashire, Cumbria and Cheshire there is a cost to the public purse of alcohol-related harms estimated at £1.8bn and a £760m cost to employers (2011-12).

Evidence shows that one month after participating in Dry January in 2015:

  • 81% of participants say they saved money
  • 63% of participants got better sleep
  • 46% of participants lost weight
  • 62% of participants had more energy
  • 85% of participants felt they benefited from the sense of achievement
  • 92% keen to participate again.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “The new guidelines are the result of comprehensive research and I would urge all residents to think about their alcohol intake.

“A period of abstinence often helps encourage less harmful, better drinking habits in the long term and Dry January could even be the start of a longer term drink free life”

The new recommendations, which bring the UK into line with countries like Australia and Canada, also state it is advisable to spread the units evenly over three days or more, warning that one or two heavy drinking sessions increase the risk of death from long term illnesses and from accidents and injuries.

The previous guidelines, which were introduced in 1995, took into account evidence which at the time indicated that drinking make have some protective effects on the heart, a position which has changed in the past 20 years.

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