This festive season is different for us all, however North Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership is reminding residents to still be mindful with their alcohol intake this Christmas, in particular people aged over 65.
Drinking alcohol can impact people’s health in so many ways, and with the coronavirus outbreak, it’s more important than ever to look after our own health and wellbeing.
Regularly overindulging in alcohol can lead to problems for people over 65 such as:
- Alcohol can interfere with medication. GPs and pharmacists can advise whether it’s safe to drink alcohol when taking medication.
- Memory, balance or coordination difficulties can be made worse when drinking alcohol. This can lead to falls and accidents.
- Drinking alcohol actually leads to heat loss in the body, increasing the risk of hypothermia when a lot of alcohol is consumed.
Paul Campbell, Development Officer, North Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership, commented: “It’s been a very difficult year for everyone and it’s important people enjoy Christmas as much as possible.
“However, it’s important to do that as safely as possible, especially as we get older.
“We know that as the festive season begins, so too does the rise in alcohol consumption. Around 1 in 3 men and nearly 1 in 6 women aged over 65 drink more than the low risk guidelines of 14 units of alcohol in a normal week.
“While over 65s tend to drink less alcohol than younger people, there is a significant minority that are drinking in a way that’s harmful to their health.
“We recognise the coronavirus outbreak means people may be feeling more stressed or worried than usual, but choosing to cut back on how much you drink may help reduce related health risks and complications linked to coronavirus.”
For more tips and information about alcohol, visit https://www.alcohol-focus-scotland.org.uk/alcohol-information/
