HEALTH WARNING OVER SUMMER DRINKING

Link:http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/health_warning_over_summer_drinking_1_581666?referrerPath=news/
HEALTH officials are issuing a fresh warning about dangers of excessive drinking during the summer months.

NHS Cumbria fears that summer barbecues, time off work and parties during the warm weather, will lead to an increase in social drinking.

Last year in the county, 84 people died in 2007 from alcohol-related disease, 48 of these were men and 36 women.

Hospital admissions in Cumbria for alcohol-specific diseases rose by 49 per cent in the five years up to 2007. NHS Cumbria wants people to follow the recommended daily alcohol intake – three to four units of alcohol for men per day and two to three units for women.

Drinkers are also being told to look out for the signs that they may have a problem with alcohol. These include getting into trouble after a drink and always feeling as though they need alcohol.

Cathy Wynne, associate director of Public Health Partnership with NHS Cumbria, said: “With the school holidays approaching it’s traditional for people to take a bit more time off and often, if relaxing at home, people may be inclined to drink more.

“Social drinking and drinking at home can be just as much of a problem as people going out and binge drinking. Men in particular tend to drink more and as a result more men in Cumbria are more likely to die from alcohol-related conditions than women.”