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Alcohol

 

Alcohol is part of life for many people. This page isn’t about telling anyone what they should do, it’s about understanding how alcohol can affect health and how small changes can make a difference over time.

Everyone’s relationship with alcohol is different. Habits are influenced by stress, social life, work, sleep and mental wellbeing. If cutting back feels hard, that doesn’t mean you’ve failed, support is available. 

Alcohol affects many parts of the body including:

  • The digestive system

  • The liver

  • Sleep and energy levels

  • Long‑term health risks

Drinking alcohol regularly, especially at higher levels, can increase the risk of several long‑term conditions including some cancers. This doesn’t mean someone will develop cancer. It means risk can increase over many years, which is why awareness matters.

You don’t need to stop drinking completely to support your health. Many people find it helpful to try one small change such as:

  • Having alcohol‑free days each week

  • Choosing lower‑alcohol options 

  • Having smaller measures

  • Swapping some drinks for non‑alcohol alternatives

  • Taking a short reset break (January is a popular time)

Small changes can benefit your body.

Alcohol can:

  • add extra calories
  • affect appetite and sleep
  • make it harder to maintain a healthy weight

Because weight and alcohol are both linked to long‑term health risks, looking at them together can be benefitial to your long-term wellbeing.

Healthy Weight & Long‑Term Health

We recommend these reliable sources for full details and support. We only recommend NHS pages, trusted UK charities and NHS recommended links:

Support with alcohol available in Warrington

If you’d like to talk about alcohol or get support, your GP practice can help. Local support available in Warrington through Change Grow Live. You can self refer using this website

 

Looking after your health isn’t about doing everything at once. One small, manageable change is a good place to start.

 

Last reviewed: January 2026

Sources: NHS, Cancer Research UK, NHS Better Health: Drink less alcohol, Alcohol Change UK, Change Grow Live
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