As Alcohol Awareness Week comes to a close, Essex County Council highlights tools which could help those with drinking problems. 

With figures suggesting that one in four people in the UK, and approximately 336,000 Essex residents, are now drinking at hazardous levels, the awareness week aims to educate people in the effects that alcohol can have in society and to the individual.

Essex County Council’s Don’t Bottle it Up campaign, which launched earlier this year, encourages people to check how at risk they are of alcohol related dangers via an online tool.

The Don’t Bottle it Up tool has over 200 users each month and has received excellent feedback both from the public, health providers and hospitals.

Further support is also available to Essex residents through a number of professional providers, and 2177 dependent drinkers are already receiving treatment through these support services in Essex.

Cllr Anne Brown, Cabinet Member for Communities and Healthy Living, said:“Alcohol is now the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking and is a root cause of ill health.

“Awareness campaigns are important in helping people recognise the need to assess their lifestyle and consider if there are issues that need addressing.

“Essex County Council is committed to supporting those who need help and directing them to information.

"Our online tool gives people the opportunity to find out their risk level and what the next step might be, and our commissioned services offer personal and important ongoing support.”

Dr Mike Gogarty, Director of Public Health at Essex County Council, added: “People can reduce the amount of alcohol they drink by pacing themselves throughout an evening.

"This is especially important to remember as we enter the lead up to Christmas.

"Sip slowly, space your drinks out, have soft drink or water in between alcoholic drinks, and have a single instead of a double.

“Drinking within the recommended limits and having a few alcohol free days every week will help body to stay healthy.

"Daily recommended sensible drinking limits are three to four units of alcohol a day for men and two to three units a day for women.

“It’s also a good idea to have at least two alcohol free days a week.”

By completing the Don’t Bottle it Up tool at http://dontbottleitup.org.uk Essex residents can find out if they need further support and where to get it.