One of the important properties of alcohol is that it changes how we feel. For this reason it can be very tempting to turn to alcohol when we are feeling worried, upset or depressed. 

Alcohol is not a stimulant. It actually slows down the signals that pass between our nerves and so is technically a depressant.  As such it can help to cause depression or make an existing depression or low mood worse. Drinking regularly over sensible limits can also contribute to a wide range of serious health problems, such as heart disease, vascular dementia, risk of stroke, diabetes and bowel cancer.

There are many reasons why people might drink increasing amounts, as they get older, including having more time to socialise, drinking to help with sleeping or pain, getting over a bereavement or to cope with loneliness. Of course many people may have been drinking over sensible limits for many years.

Sensible limits

In 1995 the Government changed its sensible drinking advice from weekly to daily guidelines. The advice is:

• Men drinking between 3 and 4 units of alcohol a day will not be causing any significant risks to their health. Regularly drinking over that amount means there is an increasing risk to your health.
• Women drinking between 2 and 3 units of alcohol a day will not be causing any significant risks to their health. Regularly drinking over that amount means there is an increasing risk to your health.

The government guidelines also recommend that you have one alcohol-free day every week.