13 December 2024
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78% of UK adults do not know what the weekly recommended alcohol limit is
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41% of UK adults say that alcohol is important for a work Christmas party, even though 18% admit to having woken up with 'beer fear' afterwards
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WithYou is launching advice on how to enjoy the Christmas season safely
Worryingly, 78% of UK adults do not know that the NHS recommends not drinking more than 14 units a week, according to polling published today.
Whether it's enjoying a glass of mulled wine, sipping on eggnog, or toasting with champagne, alcohol is often part of the celebrations.
In fact, 41% of us say that alcohol is important for a work Christmas party, and more than a quarter (26%) of us admit that we drink more during the festive season.
And while a quarter of us have already had our work Christmas party, and 58% say they have theirs this or next week, more than a third (38%) say that alcohol is an important part of the celebrations… even though 18% admit to having woken up with 'beer fear' after a work Christmas party before.
Today WithYou is reminding revellers of the risks of drinking too much during the festive season, to ensure they enjoy themselves safely, without spoiling their New Year.
According to the NHS, to keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. 14 units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine – but 1 in 10 adults believe it is 7-8 glasses of 175ml wine or 7 – 8 pints of beer.
Stephen McCulloch, Executive Director at WithYou, says:
“In the UK, alcohol is seen as a key part of the Christmas festivities, with brandy left out for Santa, Bucks fizz on Christmas morning, and mulled wine stands on street corners.
“For so many of us, there’s nothing wrong with a drink to celebrate, but we know that at this time of year, some people might go overboard, which could cause harm to themselves and others. With nearly a quarter of UK adults saying they want their work Christmas parties to have less focus on alcohol, we’re giving out top tips for anyone who doesn’t want to wake up the next day with a nasty hangover and worse memories.
“Of course for many of our clients, alcohol is used as a coping mechanism for having to deal with trauma. The nation’s centering of alcohol in its Christmas celebrations can be incredibly difficult - leaving them having to choose between protecting their recovery, and seeing friends and family. For anyone who is struggling, or knows someone who is, we are with you. You can get in touch and speak to a trained advisor for free on our website wearewithyou.org.uk.”
Paul Kennedy, who has struggled with alcohol from the age of 15 to cope with depression, hit his rock bottom when he was stranded on the streets of Glasgow, after days of drinking over the new year. He came to WithYou for help, and is now a volunteer with the charity.
Paul says:
“I’d had quite an abusive and chaotic upbringing. I think by the time I was 15 I had anxiety and depression but I wouldn’t have been able to articulate it. And then I discovered alcohol and when I drank all these negative feelings and emotions just dissipated.
“In January I travelled through to Glasgow on my own for a football match. The match took place on Sunday and I had already been drinking since Friday tea time. Once I got to the bus station they wouldn’t let me on the bus. I ended up on the streets. I just had no idea how I was going to make my way home. Definitely my rock bottom. To be quite honest with you it was the worst I’ve ever been. I felt suicidal that night in Glasgow.
“One of my issues was that I felt I’d wasted 30 years drinking and I felt I’d wasted my life, but I now think that by volunteering and going into this kind of work, then those 30 years won’t have been wasted, it’ll be like a 30 year apprenticeship. I’ll be able to take those lessons I experienced forward to help other people. If I do that, it won’t have been wasted.”
For people in recovery from alcohol, Christmas can be a really challenging time. WithYou has top tips for people who know they struggle with alcohol:
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Know your triggers and do your best to avoid them - stay away from people or places or keep yourself distracted.
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Set your boundaries and make your family and friends aware. Ask for their support.
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Bring your own non-alcoholic drinks to parties
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Remind yourself why you’re not drinking
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Reward yourself
For those of us who just need to be more conscious of our drinking to stay within the NHS limits, WithYou also has advice:
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Knowing your limits is really important
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Stay hydrated by regularly drinking water or soft drinks between alcoholic drinks
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Don’t drink on an empty stomach
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If you’re going out, try to plan how you will get home before you start drinking, and drink with others that you trust
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If you’re drinking at home, it can be hard to keep track of how much you drink, so use a measure to pour your drinks
If you need support for challenges with alcohol or you’re worried about someone else, we are with you. Contact WithYou via our webchat service and speak to a trained advisor for free on our website wearewithyou.org.uk
Notes
The research for With You was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 06.12.2024-09.12.2024 amongst a panel resulting in 2000 UK adults (18+) responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).
