Enjoy a New Year alcohol reset: 6 in 10 North East drinkers taking steps to cut down
CUTTING cancer risk, losing weight, better sleep, more energy and positive mental health. These are some of the benefits of cutting down on alcohol as part of New Year resolutions this January.
It comes as new research shows 6/10 (62%) North East drinkers are taking steps to reduce the amount they drink, compared to just under half (47%) in 2022.
The survey of 983 adults across the North East found how people who drink are taking steps to try to manage consumption:
- Nearly half (45%) are now taking alcohol free days
- 24% are reducing how much they consume when they drink alcohol
- 21% are more careful with how much alcohol they buy
- 16% monitor their drinks or units
- 10% are choosing different types of drinks that are lower strength or contain no alcohol
- 9% take part in periods off alcohol such as January
In addition, 15% in the region now do not drink alcohol.
Balance has run the “Alcohol is Toxic” campaign since November 2023, warning that alcohol is a group one carcinogen, which causes at least seven types of cancer – including breast cancer and bowel cancer, and with 500 deaths in the region each year from cancers due to alcohol.
Over 130,000 people since then have visited the Reduce my Risk website for information, advice and support to cut down or stop.
Viki Angel, 48, from Newcastle, decided to cut alcohol out of her life in 2021. She found herself on a downward spiral after the tragic death of her Mum, and drank to cope with her grief.
She wasn’t sure where to turn for the support she needed, so founded the group, Sober Socials, which now helps hundreds of people going through similar experiences.
Viki said: “I thought of myself as a ‘grey area’ drinker. Each evening I’d finish work and open the wine – and before I knew it, a full bottle was gone.
“It became a vicious cycle and my anxiety was off the scale. After founding Sober Socials, I’ve realised that it’s such a common thing. People around my age face a range of difficult situations – ageing parents, difficult jobs, juggling family commitments.
“Cutting alcohol out has enriched my life so much. A lot of people don’t realise that alcohol can worsen symptoms of menopause, so cutting it out helped me massively. I’m much less anxious, don’t miss the dreaded hangovers and even my heartburn has cleared up. Also, I would never ever swap my sober sleep!
“Alcohol is everywhere – on cards, Facebook memes – all of it saying how wonderful it is. Celebrate – drink alcohol. Stressed – drink alcohol. Big Alcohol tells you the lie that you can drink responsibly and it’s all okay – but in reality it is pushed on you and causing so much harm to people’s health, with links to cancer and many other health issues, and to society more generally.”
Balance warns that although the figures for cutting down are positive, alcohol is still driving rising rates of liver disease among younger people, a record rate of alcohol deaths and 980,000 hospital admissions nationally a year.
It warns that constant alcohol promotions and pricing deals designed to lure people into bulk-buying encourage people to drink regularly and can undermine healthy intentions.
Sue Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Fresh and Balance, said: “Most of us want to do something positive in the New Year. Cutting down on alcohol reduces our risk of cancers such as breast and bowel cancer – that is something we can do just by drinking less and drinking less often.
“It can feel hard to break drinking patterns, but cutting down alcohol consumption not only reduces longer-term health risks, but also brings immediate, life-changing positives for you and your family. It can help you to lose weight, sleep better, save money and enhance your mood and energy levels.
She added: “Alcohol is too cheap, too available and too heavily promoted. At this time of year it is difficult to walk into a supermarket without alcohol being in your face from aisle to aisle. For anyone trying to cut down or not to drink, that constant promotion is a reminder and can make things difficult.
“Alcohol’s toll on the country’s health is worsening. We are calling for more action nationally in 2025 to reduce the burden on our local communities, on the NHS and local authorities and on families.”
The National Alcohol Toolkit study also tracks reasons to cut down – with fitness (36%), future health concerns (35%) and weight loss (32%) being the top three motivations for people.
You can visit the ReduceMyRisk.tv website to find tips and advice, free tools to cut down like the Drink Free Days app, and links to local alcohol support services.
Balance in 2024 launched “Reducing Alcohol Harm”, a ground-breaking blueprint calling for urgent national action to tackle the significant impact of alcohol on health, social care, crime, disorder, workplaces, and the economy.
82% of North East adults consider alcohol to be a problem both regionally and nationally.
Alice Wiseman, Director of Public Health for Gateshead and Newcastle, said: “We know December is a time when many people find their relationship with alcohol is worsening, not just because it’s often a time for enjoying social gatherings with family or friends, but also because the festive season can be a lonely or stressful time for many people. It’s also a time when we are bombarded with alcohol promotion telling us to drink and to buy alcohol.
“Although lots of people think of having a few drinks as a way to relax or switch off, alcohol is a depressant and cutting down will lead to longer-term improvement in your mood and energy levels. January is the ideal opportunity to reset your relationship with alcohol and get the New Year off to a healthier, happier start by increasing your number of drink free days, cutting down or taking time off drinking completely.”
Alcohol is linked to more than 200 medical conditions including 7 types of cancer, liver disease, heart disease and stroke. It can worsen weight problems and worsen anxiety and depression.
Benefits of cutting down
Like tobacco, alcohol is toxic. Just one or two drinks a day can increase the risk of cancer including bowel, breast, mouth and throat cancer.
The best way to reduce your risk is to cut down how much and how often you drink drinking:
- Drink no more than 14 units a week to stay “low risk” (about six glasses of wine, six double spirits or six pints of lager a week) spread out over several days.
- Take at least three drink free days a week to give your body a break.
Taking time off alcohol is a great way to start the New Year, will reduce your risks of serious illness and make you feel healthier and better.
There are lots of ways to cut down – try a month without alcohol in January, taking several drink free days a week and watching your alcohol units.
Cutting down drinking brings so many benefits:
- Reduce your risk of ill health
- Improve your mood and better sleep
- Help you feel more energetic
- Lose weight and lower blood pressure
- More time and more money