The effects of alcohol consumption

Socializing is often accompanied by a drink, however, there can be life changing consequences to alcohol consumption.

The NHS website says “drinking large amounts of alcohol for many years will take its toll on many of the body’s organs and may cause organ damage”. These organs include the brain, heart, liver and pancreas as well as the nervous system.

The NHS recommends that both men and women should not consume more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. However, in England, 40% of adults drink over the recommended amount, according to alcoholchange.org.

“In my first and second year of university, I was drinking very heavily due to social pressures. Whenever I went out, I always felt I had to have a drink. This led to a severe kidney infection that put me in hospital”, a third-year student at Kingston University revealed.

As well as a physical risk to your health, mental health is also affected by drinking. Alcohol abuse is linked to depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.

Alongside health, alcohol-related instances including violence and accidents are often reported, with research by drinklaware.co.uk found that in 2020, “victims believed the offender was under the influence of alcohol in 42% of all violent incidents”.

Responsible drinking is being promoted through campaigns such as Diageo’s “know when to stop”, which is designed to make people stop and think about overconsumption of alcohol. Similarly, drinkaware.co.uk has tips on how to reduce or cut out drinking over January, and advice about how deal with peer pressure or stay motivated while cutting down on alcohol.

For more help on alcohol abuse, visit nhs.co.uk.