Dry January to challenge people to give up alcohol completely for an entire month, the initiative aims to raise awareness of the positive impact this can have on people's wellbeing. Dry January is a way of talking about serious health issues. Alcohol Concern says that just 6.4 per cent of dependent drinkers currently access treatment, something Dry January is hoping to improve.

The advantages of giving up, or at least cutting down, on alcohol range widely. According to Alcohol Concern, drinking is a contributing factor to over 60 illnesses and conditions, some of which include:

• High blood pressure

• Depression

• Liver cirrhosis

• Liver, stomach, throat and mouth cancer

Cutting down on the amount you drink can impact positively on your finances. Reducing your consumption can also help you lose weight and improve your own body image.

Useful links for further advice are:

https://www.alcoholconcern.org.uk/

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Alcohol-misuse/

http://www.talktofrank.com/drug/alcohol

If you feel like cutting down on your drinking, give us a call on 01992 450082 and speak to our pharmacist for further advice.