Alcohol treatment in Cheshire

 

UNDERSTANDING ALCOHOL USE

So what’s the deal with alcohol?

 

Alcohol is part of social life for many people, but drinking too much, either regularly or in heavy sessions, can have serious effects on health and wellbeing. This page explains what excessive drinking and binge drinking mean, the main health risks, the UK low-risk drinking guidelines, and how we may be able to help.

 

 

THE BASICS

What is excessive alcohol use?

 

Excessive alcohol use means drinking beyond low-risk levels, either regularly over a long period or in single episodes of heavy drinking. It can include:

 

• Regular heavy drinking: drinking large amounts of alcohol over weeks, months or years.

• Binge drinking: drinking a lot in a short time. In the UK this is usually defined as more than 8 units in a single session for men, or more than 6 units for women.

 

 

THE RISKS

Health risks of long-term heavy drinking

 

Long-term heavy drinking can affect both physical and mental health. Some of the main risks are:

 

 

1. Liver damage

 

Alcohol is one of the leading causes of liver disease in the UK. Over time, heavy drinking can lead to:

 

• Fatty liver: a build-up of fat in the liver.

• Alcohol-related hepatitis: inflammation of the liver.

• Cirrhosis: scarring of the liver, which can lead to liver failure.

 

 

2. Heart and circulation

 

Heavy drinking increases the risk of high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), irregular heart rhythms and stroke.

 

 

3. Mental health and memory

 

Drinking heavily can contribute to low mood and anxiety. Over the long term it can affect memory, coordination and decision-making, and is linked to a higher risk of dementia.

 

 

4. Stomach and pancreas

 

Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and can contribute to gastritis and ulcers. It can also inflame the pancreas, causing pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening.

 

 

5. Cancer

 

Long-term drinking is linked to several cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, breast, liver and bowel.

 

 

BINGE DRINKING

Short- and long-term effects of binge drinking

 

• Short-term effects: impaired judgement, accidents and injuries, alcohol poisoning, and risky behaviour such as drink-driving or unsafe sex.

• Long-term effects: regular binge drinking can lead to the same health problems as long-term heavy drinking, including liver disease, heart disease and memory problems.

 

 

UK GUIDELINES

The UK low-risk drinking guidelines

 

The UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines are designed to help people keep the health risks from alcohol low:

 

• Weekly limit: men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.

• Spread it out: if you drink as much as 14 units a week, spread it evenly over three or more days.

• Drink-free days: having several drink-free days each week is a good way to cut down.

• Avoid heavy sessions: drinking a lot in one go increases the risk of accidents, injuries and other harms.

 

 

UNITS

Understanding alcohol units

 

In the UK, alcohol is measured in units. One unit is 10ml (8g) of pure alcohol. As a guide:

 

• A pint of 5% beer or lager: about 2.8 units.

• A small (125ml) glass of 12% wine: about 1.5 units.

• A single (25ml) measure of 40% spirits: 1 unit.

 

 

HOW WE CAN HELP

How Cheshire Sobriety Clinic can help

 

If you’re worried about how much you drink, or you’ve tried to cut down on your own without success, we offer private, one-to-one outpatient support in Altrincham, Alderley Edge and online. Treatment combines talking therapy with John Wilkinson and Rapid Transformational Therapy® (RTT®) with Dr Shyra Raj, and aims to address the reasons behind your drinking as well as the habit itself.

 

Sessions with John run Tuesday to Friday from 6pm and on Saturday mornings, so appointments can fit around work.

 

 

YOUR NEXT STEP

Start with a free, confidential conversation

 

If you’d like to talk things through, book a complimentary 30-minute consultation. It’s a private, no-obligation conversation about what has been happening and whether our support may be right for you.

 

Cheshire Sobriety Clinic is not a crisis service and does not provide medically managed detox. If you drink heavily every day, stopping suddenly can be dangerous, so please speak to your GP or NHS 111 before cutting down. In an emergency, call 999.