Have yourself a merry little Christmas….but without the hangover

For some, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without the sherry ‘for Santa’, the festive fizz, the port to finish the perfect meal and a Baileys to give the coffee that extra kick. But wouldn’t it be nice to wake up on Boxing Day without the need to worry about what happened the night before or reach for those hangover remedies?

Well, the local authorities across Surrey are keen to point out that it is possible to have a merry Christmas without overdoing it and putting your health and well-being at risk. This web page has been put together to offer some helpful hints and tips to looking after yourself over the festive season.

Keep track of your consumption

The latest figures from NHS Surrey reveal that one in four adults in Surrey drink above the recommended levels, increasing the risk of stroke, cancer and heart disease. Not only this, but drinking excessively can have a negative impact on people’s mental well-being and their ability to develop positive relationships with others. So why not look after yourself a bit better this Christmas by paying attention to your levels of drinking?

 There’s no guaranteed safe level of drinking, but as a guide the NHS recommends:

• men shouldn’t regularly drink more than 3-4 units per day.
• women shouldn’t regularly drink more than 2-3 units per day.

The number of units in a drink depends on its size and strength. With some strong beers and ciders, a pint or a bottle can contain three units or more - so can a large glass of wine. Always check how strong and how large your drink is to know how many units of alcohol it contains.

If you are drinking, try to alternate your drinks so you’re switching between alcohol and a soft drink and avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Try keeping a drinks diary for a couple of weeks – you’ll be surprised at how quickly it adds up!

Going out on the road?

If you’re going out and about to see friends and family, make sure you have established who the ‘designated driver’ is before you set off.

Rather than worry about how many drinks will keep you ‘below acceptable limits’ the best advice is to stay off the alcohol altogether if you’re driving – that way you can be sure to get home safe and sound. Driving gives you the perfect excuse to have a night off the booze and might be just what you need to feel invigorated and refreshed the next day.

But, of course, if you do want to have a drink, leave the car at home and consider other ways of travelling instead.

Surrey Police vigorously enforces the drink-drive law and is committed to reducing the number of road traffic collisions and the number and severity of casualties that drink-driving causes. Don’t get your New Year off to a tragic start…

Advice and support

If you want to drink less, tips on cutting down can be found at www.drinking.nhs.uk. Useful information about alcohol can also be found at www.drinkaware.co.uk

If you’re worried about yours or someone else’s drinking habits, please see below for details of where to get advice and support. Alternatively, visit your GP.

• National Drinkline: 0800 917 8282
• Surrey Drug Care 24hr Helpline (for drugs or alcohol): 01483 300112
• Alcoholics Anonymous (calls charged at a local rate): 0845 769 7555
• Catch 22 (for young people): 0800 6226662
• Drink Aware
• Health Aware

This information has been prepared in the interests of your safety by the following organisations: