Alcohol is everywhere – in the moments we celebrate, the ads we see, and the habits we don’t question. Yet we rarely stop to think about the impact it is having on our health and wellbeing, as well as our relationships.
This #AlcoholAwarenessWeek (6-12 July) is a chance to pause and reflect on the role alcohol is playing in our lives. The theme for 2026 is ‘Alcohol and Me’.
As part of the campaign, people can take Alcohol Change UK’s free, confidential ‘Check your Drinking’ quiz for a clearer picture of drinking patterns and any potential risks and consider what, if anything, they’d like to do next.
The Alcohol, Cannabis, and Vaping team, within NHS Lanarkshire’s Health Improvement department, has worked on a short video to explain and raise further awareness of the harms and effects of alcohol.
As many people may choose to reduce or stop drinking during Alcohol Awareness Week, the video offers helpful information as it highlights:
- Alcohol is a depressant, and it can affect our mood
- How it lowers inhibitions meaning people take risks they wouldn’t normally
- How alcohol can become problematic for some people
Lorna Shearer, Health Improvement Senior – Alcohol, Vaping & Cannabis Team, NHS Lanarkshire, said: “This year’s Alcohol Awareness Week aims to normalise checking in with our drinking in the same way we keep track of other aspects of our health and wellbeing, such as visiting the dentist, monitoring our blood pressure or getting our eyes tested.
“The campaign also invites honest, open and judgement-free conversations about pressures and about the benefits many people experience when they cut back or rethink their relationship with alcohol.
“Despite an overall gradual decline in alcohol consumption over the last two decades, the number of people drinking alcohol at harmful or hazardous levels remains high.
“We play a key role in working with partners to provide information on the low-risk guidelines around alcohol consumption. This is to prevent alcohol related harms across Lanarkshire and early onset drinking in young people, which can lead to problematic drinking in adulthood.”
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