Ben Everitt, the MP for Milton Keynes North, joined Alcohol Change UK at a Parliamentary event to learn more about how much alcohol costs us all in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties.
Over 5,000 community groups across the UK have also taken action this week to raise awareness of the true cost of alcohol which is the theme of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week.
Alcohol Awareness Week is managed and hosted by UK charity Alcohol Change UK and runs from 3 to 9 July 2023.
During the week, Alcohol Change UK have been sharing tips on what to do if you think you are drinking too much alcohol, how to have a conversation with a friend or family member about their drinking, and how to get support if you are affected by a loved one’s drinking.
Ben Everitt MP said: "I was pleased to be able to visit the Alcohol Change UK event in Westminster to support Alcohol Awareness Week to help raise awareness so everybody can make more informed choices about their drinking, feel able to seek support if they need it, and are better able to support those who may be struggling."
Dr Richard Piper, Chief Executive of Alcohol Change UK, said: “We are delighted to have Ben take part in this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week. We would like to thank all MPs and peers who made it a priority to attend our event to learn more about alcohol harm. We look forward to continuing our conversation with them and in working together to bring about change to reduce the impact of alcohol on us all.”
“We know that the average UK adult spends tens of thousands of pounds on alcohol in the course of a lifetime. But what do we really get back from all that expenditure?
“Alcohol can bring some short-term pleasure to some of us but it can also be detrimental to our own physical and mental health and to that of those around us.
“Drinking regularly or heavily puts us at greater risk of: heart disease, liver disease, stroke, increased blood pressure, and cancer, including throat cancer and breast cancer. It can cause tensions and disagreements with those around us and put a strain on our finances too. Plus, once drunk, it can make it harder to keep track of how many drinks we have had, putting us at greater risk of more immediate harm.
“So, for this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week, we are encouraging people to think about the true cost of alcohol to us all and to recognise and talk about the way your own or someone else’s drinking might be affecting you and those around you.”