York is supporting this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week which is taking place from 18 to 22 November.

Alcohol has an important role in many people’s social lives but it is easy to underestimate how much or how often we are drinking, and that it is causing harm to ourselves and others.Local statistics for York suggest that 20% of people who drink alcohol in the city are drinking in ways that put their health at risk.

In 2010/11 in York, more than 3,000 people were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related illnesses (Local Alcohol Profiles for England, calculated from indicators 10 and 11), and an estimated 18,000 attended A&E (estimate from Alcohol Concern’s alcohol harm map http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/campaign/alcohol-harm-map)

 

The cost to the city’s health services due to alcohol misuse alone is estimated at £58 per adult resident (alcohol concern alcohol harm map as above.)

Alcohol misuse can also fuel violent crime: in 2010/11 there were estimated to be four violent crimes attributable to alcohol for every 1,000 people in York (local alcohol profile as above indicator 16).

Estimates of the number of people who binge drink is above the national average (local area alcohol profile indicator 24.)

During Alcohol Awareness Week City of York Council is encouraging the city’s residents to talk about alcohol. The council will be carrying Alcohol Concern’s ‘Hair of the Dog’ conversation cards in We st Offices, with different facts about alcohol aimed at sparking discussions and awareness. Other venues wishing to use these cards can download and print them for free at http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/campaign, where there is also more information available about the week.

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, Director of Health and Wellbeing for City of York Council said: ‘Many of us enjoy a drink, but nobody enjoys doing long term damage to their health, or being the victim of alcohol-fuelled violence. As Christmas parties approach, I hope Alcohol Awareness week will get York’s residents thinking and talking about their own drinking habits and how to ensure they’re notharming themselves or others.’

• Facts about alcohol
• Over 45s are three times more likely to drink alcohol every day
• People who work are more likely to drink alcohol than unemployed people
• Half of domestic violence cases over Christmas 2012 involved alcohol
• Around 200,000 people go to work with a hangover every day
• Alcohol is the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking
• It is estimated that 2.6million children in the UK are living with parents who are drinking hazardously
• 20,000 women a week experience alcohol related domestic abuse

For more information about alcohol awareness:
Contact your GP surgery for general advice

Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/ 0845 76 97 555 helpline

SMART Recovery: http://www.smartrecovery.org.uk/ info@smartrecovery.org.uk  01463 729548

Al-Anon family support: http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/  enquiries@al-anonuk.org.uk  Confidential Helpline: 020 7403 0888

Lifeline: Severe dependency assistance and treatment: Lifeline Project York, 3 Blossom street, York, YO24 1AU. 01904 464680

Oaktrees Abstinence Support: Bowes Morrell House, 111 Walmgate, York, YO1 9UA Tel: 01904 621776 mailto:oaktrees.york@tcuk.org

Alcohol Concern: http://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/

Change for life: http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/pages/drink-less-alcohol.aspx