Easier ways to drink sensibly

Summer. Whether you’re fortunate enough to be jetting abroad or making the most of it at home at a festival or a barbeque, we tend to spend more time outdoors relaxing in the sunshine with a drink in our hand during warmer months.

Most people will be using sunscreen to protect against the harmful effects of the sun, but are you also protecting yourself from the effects of alcohol?

Drinking is linked to a number of cancers, including mouth cancer, oesophagus cancer and larynx cancer (throat cancer). For women, there’s also a higher risk of breast cancer. Most people who have health problems from drinking aren’t alcoholics – they’re just people who’ve regularly been drinking above recommended limits for some years.

Women regularly exceeding the recommended daily alcohol limit increase their risk of breast cancer by a third

Although there is no completely safe level of drinking, men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women not more than two to three. 'Regularly' means drinking every day or most days of the week.

We all want to look our best, even more so in the summer when the layers start to come off. Watching what you drink could help you look and feel your best this summer, and beyond.

The average wine drinker consumes 2,000 extra calories each month

Drinking can affect your appearance, dehydrating your skin and leaving it looking older and tired. Alcohol has a lot of ‘empty’ calories, so if you’re drinking alcohol on a regular basis it can be easier than you think to absorb excess calories and pile on the pounds.

Drinking alcohol also reduces the amount of fat burnt by your body for energy. Add to that the tendency to ditch the healthy diet and eat more than you usually would and it is going to be harder to keep that summer-fit body. And that’s before the next day fry up.

While it’s good to be in the know about the calories in your drinks, don’t let it become an obsession that encourages you to skip meals. Eating a nutritious, balanced diet will help you improve your overall health.

Find out how many units and calories are in your alcoholic drink with a simple alcohol tracker.

A small reduction in drinking can make a big difference to your health. Use these pages to help you find your way of cutting down. You could make a start with these simple tips.

• Keep a record of your drinking to help you get to grips with units and different levels of drinking
• Try a new non-alcoholic tipple. Mocktails make a refreshing alternative
• Alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic drinks
• Swap your regular beer or lager for a light version
• Top your drink right up with a reduced calorie, alcohol free mixer
• Go for smaller sized glasses or a bottled beer

If you or someone you know needs support, speak your GP or use the ‘Find your way’ link on the left to find help locally. There is a lot of support and advice available to you.