This week is Alcohol Awareness Week, led by Alcohol Change UK.
In the UK, alcohol is the leading cause of liver disease. There is a common myth that only ‘alcoholics’ develop alcohol-related liver disease, but even regularly drinking above the guideline amounts can put you at risk. Around 1 in 5 of us drink alcohol in a way that could harm our liver health.
How does alcohol affect the liver?
When you drink, your liver is the first organ to process alcohol and the first to be susceptible to the effects of drinking.
While the liver has the amazing ability to repair itself, just like an elastic band, it can only take so much damage from regularly drinking too much alcohol. In the process of alcohol being broken down by the liver, harmful chemicals are released that can damage your liver cells. This causes the scarring (fibrosis) which if not treated in time leads to cirrhosis.
Cutting down on alcohol consumption
The best way to reduce the risk of alcohol-related liver disease is to stop drinking or stick within the low-risk drinking guidelines, by drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol, and taking 3 consecutive days off in a week.
Getting help
It’s very common to find it hard to cut down on drinking alcohol, but it’s a crucial step to keeping your liver and body healthy. There’s no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed about your drinking, if you need support, you could:
Download resources or seek support from the British Liver Trust
If you are worried about how much you are drinking, download our factsheet for some tips on how to make steps to cut down.
The British Liver Trust’s Nurse-led helpline can also provide practical and emotional support on alcohol-related liver disease and signpost to other services.
Speak to your GP
If you are worried about alcohol and your liver health, please speak to your GP to be assessed thoroughly. Your GP will ask you questions about your alcohol intake and consider if any tests are required, for example a blood test. You can read more about how liver conditions are diagnosed. Finding liver disease early can make a big difference.
Your GP can put you in touch with your local alcohol services who can help you understand your drinking and how to cut down or stop – whichever is best for you. Find out more about what alcohol care teams do in our blog.
Call Drinkline.
A national alcohol helpline. Calls are free and completely confidential. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am-8pm and weekends 11am-4pm).
Contact Alcoholics Anonymous.
They offer support to stop drinking throughout the UK. Call free on 0800 9177 650 or visit www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.
Contact Smart Recovery.
A charity that promotes addiction recovery through meetings and online resources, including online meetings. Visit www.smartrecovery.org.uk
Speak to your doctor if you’d like some support to cut down, they can recommend local services who can help. If you’re worried that alcohol has damaged your liver, ask your doctor to do some tests.
To find out more about Alcohol Awareness Week, visit Alcohol Awareness Week | Alcohol Change UK.
