26 December 2023 , 10:14
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As we all tend to enjoy a drink over the Christmas period - it's important to check your drinking habits as experts warn of red flag signs to look out for with excessive drinking.
Between Christmas and New Year, everyone will drink a little more than they may usually do, but a study by Private Rehab Clinic Delamere revealed that almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of drinkers in the UK over-indulge during the festive season. While it's nice to drink and catch up with friends, there are a few alcoholic signs to look out for if people think they may be drinking too much.
Apart from what it's doing to our health, excessive drinking is expensive. The experts at Delamere found that people who binge drink between Christmas and New Year will consume 22 units or more of alcohol a week - and will spend £62.55 on wine, £41.20 on beer, and a staggering £50 a week on cocktails.
The NHS urged festive drinkers to be aware of the risks of overindulging in one too many drinks over the Christmas and New Year period. There are dangers to excessive drinking such as accidents as well as health risks, and the NHS warn that an increase in alcohol can "raise blood pressure" and damage organs. For signs of a functioning alcoholic, these may include:
- Frequent intoxication and smelling of alcohol
- Loss of control around alcohol use
- Hiding alcohol in strange places such as their garage, at the office, in bushes or in their car
- Drinking between work times or appointments, or drinking just enough to keep their alcohol levels topped up if they are alcohol dependent
- Frequent binge drinking after daily responsibilities are taken care of
- Justifying their drinking as a way of unwinding after work, a busy day with the kids or as a reward
- Becoming irritable, anxious, restless and unable to sleep if they are unable to drink
- Regularly drinking in the morning before going about their day, or at odd times of the day such as lunchtime in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Always drinking at social events and 'preloading’ prior to attending a social event
- Avoiding social events or activities that do not involve alcohol
- Alcohol has become a problem at home, with them either drinking excessively alone at home or disappearing to a pub or bar straight after work for hours
- Becoming defensive or flippant when challenged over their drinking
- Denying they are an alcoholic, reasoning that they still hold down a job or take the kids to school on time
- Alternating alcohol and prescription pills in order that they can function
- They may become erratic, spontaneous, angry or change their character completely whilst intoxicated
- Difficulty in recalling events that took place whilst heavily intoxicated – experiencing an alcoholic blackout
- Risk-taking, they may well drive to work or drive children to school whilst still over the limit from the previous night or from taking a morning drink