Alcohol Information & Advice Service
Welcome to South West Essex NHS Alcohol information & advice service. As you explore this interactive site it will give you a personal guidance on any questions and queries that you may have about alcohol use, your own drinking patterns, being affected by other people’s drinking as well as where to obtain additional help and advice if you require it.
This website is designed to give you a better understanding and knowledge in relation to alcohol and to help you think about how much alcohol you are drinking. It may even help you to consider whether you may benefit from changing the way you drink… Without reducing the fun!!!
It may surprise you to know that 1 in 10 adults are drinking at a hazardous or harmful level, and many of those do not realise the negative effects that alcohol can have on the body. Alcohol can cause:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Strokes
- Stomach ulcers
- Cancer
- Depression
- Family stress & relationship breakdowns
- Accidental injuries
The more a person drinks; the greater the risk of experiencing physical or mental health problems, and have a higher risk of experiencing alcohol related harm. Information in this website covers topics such as;
- Myths & facts about alcohol
- An interactive alcohol quiz
- An alcohol self-assessment – test your own drinking patterns!
- Guidance about safe drinking levels – What is a unit of alcohol?
- Top tips to cutting down your alcohol use
- Psychological, physical and social harms caused by alcohol
- Questions & answer page
- Where to get more advice & help (National & Local)
