This Alcohol Awareness Week, take a moment to ask yourself one simple question:
Is alcohol enhancing my life – or quietly holding me back?
Alcohol is deeply woven into everyday life. It’s often portrayed as a normal part of how we live – from sunny weekends and relaxing evenings on the sofa to celebrating birthdays, marking milestones, or supporting your team. It’s easy to see why drinking can feel like a natural, even inevitable, part of daily life.
But it comes at a cost. Alcohol can affect us more than we realise – whether it’s poor sleep, low energy, increased anxiety, and a sense that something just isn’t quite right. These effects can impact our overall health and wellbeing, our relationships, and our ability to function day to day. Over time it can also put us at real risk of developing many other long-term health conditions such as liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and cancer.
So why not take a moment to explore the role alcohol is playing in your life?
You might like to reflect on your alcohol intake, learn more about your drinking patterns, consider cutting back how much you drink, or perhaps try an alcohol-free period. There’s no one-size fits all approach – what matters is finding what works for you.
The good news is that you don’t have to make big changes to start feeling the benefits. Cutting back even a little can improve sleep, mood, energy, and support your overall wellbeing, with positive effects that extend far beyond yourself.
Ready to make a change?
If you’re ready to make a change, even a small one can make a difference.
The UK Chief Medical Officers recommend consuming no more than 14 units a week, spread evenly across 3 or more days, with several alcohol-free days.
Want to find out how many units you’re drinking? Try Alcohol Change UK’s Unit calculator or check the diagram below.
Tips and Advice
It can feel daunting to know where to start, but here are a few simple tips to help you get going:
Reflect on how alcohol makes you feel and what you hope to gain by cutting back. Write down what you’re most looking forward to by cutting back. This could include better sleep, less anxiety, saving money, or improving your relationships.
Ask yourself: when do I tend to drink more, where am I, who am I with, and how am I feeling? Once you understand your triggers, you can plan simple ways to manage them.
Identify drinks that are more about routine or boredom – like a mid-week glass of wine or the beer after work – and start by cutting those out. Letting go of these can quickly reduce your weekly intake.
With so many alcohol-free choices available, swapping your usual drink can be an easy way to cut down without missing out.
Try simple swaps like choosing bottles instead of pints, having smaller measures of wine, or opting for single instead of double spirits. You can also choose drinks with a lower ABV.
Eating before and while you drink can slow the absorption of alcohol and help you stay in control.
Helpful tools and support
You might also find these resources helpful:
Alcohol Change UK’s Check Your Drinking Quiz is a quick way to check your drinking habits. It’s free, confidential and non-judgemental.
Access reliable information and support around alcohol.
Visit NHS Inform
For alcohol information and support available locally and nationally.
Visit Healthy Shetland Alcohol Support
This Alcohol Awareness Week, give yourself space to reflect.
A small step today could lead to meaningful changes tomorrow.
