Enfield residents are being challenged to bin the booze for January and sign up to the Alcohol Concern Campaign – Dry January.
Enfield Council is backing the campaign which aims to give people the
opportunity to make a healthy start to the New Year by avoiding the after work
pint, the big boozy night out or the sneaky glass of wine on the sofa in front
of the television.
Cutting down on alcohol will give residents the chance to avoid those killer
hangovers, save money and reduce their waistlines after the excesses of
Christmas. Health benefits are likely to include improved sleep, weight loss,
improved skin and hair quality and save money.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport Youth and Public Health,
Cllr Rohini Simbodyal, said: “We’re encouraging people to take part in the
Dry January challenge to see if they can bin the booze for the month of
January.
“It’s a light hearted challenge which aims to get across the message that
too much alcohol isn’t good for you and many people would probably benefit from
drinking less. I’m signing up and I’d urge as many residents as possible to
take part as well and see if they can stop drinking for just one month.
“Many people think the way they drink isn’t a problem. They may have a few
beers after work, or a few glasses of wine in the evening. They don’t think
this will harm their health; they are just winding down after a hard day at
work. But this kind of drinking could store up problems for the future.”
Did you know?
• Alcohol Concern estimates that around 200,000 thousand people go to work with
a hangover every day, costing the economy around £6.4 billion each year.
• And it’s not just at work that the cost of alcohol misuse is racking up;
overall alcohol related harm is estimated to be between £20 – £55 billion each
year, the figure being made up of alcohol-related health disorders and disease,
crime and antisocial behaviour, loss of productivity in the workplace, and
problems for those who misuse alcohol and their families, including domestic
violence.
• People who regularly drink over the recommended limits are more likely to
suffer health problems such as liver disease, heart disease and high blood
pressure. Alcohol is also the second biggest risk factor for oral cancer after
smoking.
For those who are concerned about their drinking and need some extra help and
information about cutting down or stopping please contact Enfield’s Drug and
Alcohol Support Service for some free and confidential advice on (020) 8379
6174 or email enfield@compass-uk.org
