With the fun and joy of Christmas and New Year also comes the risks of overdoing it – nights out, family visits and simply evenings in front of the TV can lead to the drink flowing.
Hayley Tranter, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust lead alcohol nurse, is appealing to everyone to not drink too much over the festive period.
Hayley said: “We all want to have fun but drinking too much can cause real harm.
“The advised weekly maximum is 14 units a week. That’s about six glasses of wine or six pints of beer – spread across a few days.
“Many people don’t realise that this advice applies to men as well as women.
“Regularly going over the 14 unit limit can lead to serious health problems including cancer, stroke and heart disease.
“There’s also more chance of a trip or fall – just about every A&E in the country sees an increase in alcohol-related injuries over the Christmas period.
“If you drink alcohol, it’s always worth taking a few moments to check in with yourself, review how much you are drinking and if needed, take a few steps to cut back.”
The Alcohol Change and NHS Better Health websites both have lots of information and advice on how to reduce drinking.