Stockport Council is supporting Alcohol Concern’s 2015 Dry January campaign which has been launched during this week – 17th to 23rd November – this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week.
New research shows that participants who complete the behaviour change campaign are now drinking less, and also drinking in less harmful ways.
Stockport residents are being urged to take up the challenge and give up alcohol for 31 days after the excess of Christmas. Nationwide evidence shows six months after completing a Dry January, 72% of people who took part, had sustained reduced levels of drinking.
In Stockport, one in five people are drinking in excess of recommended daily limits and there were around 6,900 alcohol related hospital admissions of Stockport residents Figures also show that in 2011, 130 people from Stockport died from alcohol related causes.
Councillor John Pantall, (left) Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said:
“We are very pleased to be supporting Alcohol Concern’s Dry January campaign. Research shows that a month of abstinence can help people rebalance their relationship with alcohol which has a very positive impact on their health and wellbeing.
“It has been estimated alcohol related hospital admission costs the NHS in Stockport over £14 million per year. Most of these costs are due to the long-term health effects of drinking more than the low-risk guideline, rather than alcohol dependency. This is a massive strain on the public purse and takes away valuable resources from other front line services.”
To sign up and take the Dry January challenge visit www.dryjanuary.org.uk
Visit www.stockport.gov.uk/alcoholaware to find out more about what’s happening across Stockport during Alcohol Awareness Week and the range of support services available in Stockport – from advice on cutting down alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle to support for alcohol dependency and help for family members affected.