Earlier in the month, the Isle of Wight Council and the NHS launched a campaign aiming to reduce harmful drinking and increase drink awareness on the Island.
They’re hoping that by educating people about the recommended weekly alcohol intake limits for both men and women, alcohol related crimes and admissions to A&E will decrease.
With news today that almost 8,000 children under the age of 18 were admitted to hospital in 2006/7 and Isle of Wight ranking second highest in the country, we hope that the campaign includes educating the young people on the Wight too.
“The Christmas party season is a fantastic time to let your hair down and have a drink with your friends”, says Dr Paul Bingham, Consultant in Public Health Medicine for the NHS on the Isle of Wight.
“But over the years the strength of popular drinks has increased and glass sizes have grown – many people are unaware that a large glass of festive wine can contain as many as 3 units. By recognising the units in their drinks, partygoers can ensure they have a safe and memorable evening, without embarrassing themselves.”
Alcohol Limits
The Department of Health recommends that men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol daily and that women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units daily. Regularly exceeding your recommended daily alcohol limit increases the risk of long term health harms.
It is estimated that 41,000 residents on the Isle of Wight, aged 16 and over, are drinking alcohol in excess of the recommended daily limits at least once a week. In 2006/07, the latest year for which figures are available there were 1,169 hospital admissions for alcohol related harm. (Source, Isle of Wight Public Health Annual Report 2008.)
Islanders who are worried about their alcohol consumption are encouraged to contact their GP or visit the Web site.
Image: Josh Staiger
