10 th November 2014 Alcohol Awareness Week Campaign

10 th November 2014 Alcohol Awareness Week Campaign 2014 Laura Wilson and Rebecca Brown Cardiff and Vale Public Health Team

What’s the problem with drinking? • Alcohol misuse is a major preventable cause of poor health and early death in Wales • Causes over 60 diseases and is linked to many others • Alcohol is the second biggest risk factor for cancer after smoking. • 42% of adults in Wales drink above guidelines at least 1 day in the last week • 26% of adults in Wales binge drink at least 1 day in the last week • 7% of adults in Wales report drink almost every day of the week (2012/13 Welsh Health Survey data)

Alcohol and the workplace • Around 200, 000 people come to work with a hangover in the UK everyday. • Decreased productivity • Absenteeism • Long term health problems

How to address the problem? • Developed a campaign toolkit • Supports organisations to run alcohol campaigns in their workplaces • Workplace provides an ideal setting to target adults – whether staff or public.

Key campaign messages • Know your units • Stick to recommended daily guidelines (men: 3 -4 units; women: 2 -3 units) • Have at least 2 alcohol free days a week • Start thinking about having a ‘Dry January’ • Cutting down on drinking can reduce the risk of serious health problems and help to look and feel in better shape.

How can you disseminate these messages? 1. Articles on Intranet or by email.

2. Poster and / leaflet displays

3. Information stand • • Manned or unmanned in a busy area Make it eye catching with posters, leaflets, wheels and beakers Use interactive activities to begin the conversation Signpost to Change 4 Life Wales.

4. Social networking

5. Speaker from an outside agency. charlotte. hopkins@newlinkwales. org. uk

Dry January 2015

Dry January • 31 days alcohol free. Can you rise to the challenge? • Dry January Challenge – league table, toolkit and resources. • Competitions, alcohol free social events, raise money.

. . . Could you run the campaign in your organisation? Toolkits are electronic and can be e-mailed to you. Resources can be picked up from Whitchurch Hospital. Laura. Wilson 3@wales. nhs. uk Elin. Evans 5@wales. nhs. uk