Drinking may seem to be a 'quick' answer to the relief of stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health problems. However, the effect is short-lived and drinking a lot of alcohol often makes these conditions worse.

1. Social drinking
   Most people drink some alcohol. However, even a little amount of alcohol can be dangerous if you drive, operate machinery, or take some types of medication.
   
   
2. Heavy (hazardous) drinking
   This is drinking above the recommended 'safe' limits which are:
• Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week, and no more than four units in any one day.
• Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, and no more than three units in any one day. (Pregnant women should not drink at all.)

One unit of alcohol is in about half a pint of beer, or two thirds of a small glass of wine, or one small pub measure of spirits.

Drinking above the recommended safe limit is hazardous. That is, it increases your danger of developing diseases such as cirrhosis (liver damage), damage to the pancreas, certain cancers, heart problems, sexual problems, and other conditions. About 1 in 3 men, and about 1 in 7 women, drink more than the safe limit. In general, the more you drink, the greater the risk.

3. Problem (harmful) drinking
   
This is where you continue to drink heavily even though you have caused harm, or are causing drinking problems to yourself, family, or society. For example, you may:
• Have cirrhosis or another alcohol related condition.
• Binge drink and get drunk quite often. This may cause you to lose time off work, or behave in an antisocial way when you drink. But note: not everybody with problem drinking binges or gets drunk. Many people with an alcohol related condition such as cirrhosis drink small amounts frequently, but do not get drunk.
• Spend more money on alcohol than you can afford.
• Have problems with your relationships or at work because of your drinking.
• Many drinking problem are not dependent on alcohol. They could stop drinking without withdrawal symptoms if they wanted to. But, for one reason or another, they continue to drink heavily.
   
4. Alcohol dependence (alcohol addiction)
   This is a serious situation where drinking alcohol takes a high priority in your life. You drink every day, and often need to drink to prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms (see below).
   If you are alcohol dependent (alcohol addiction) you have a strong need for alcohol. Sometimes the desire is irresistible. You have huge difficulty in controlling your drinking. In addition, your body becomes used to lots of alcohol. Therefore, you may start to develop 'withdrawal' symptoms 3-8 hours after your last drink as the effect of the alcohol wears off. So, even if you want to stop drinking, it is often difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms, including: feeling sick, trembling, sweating, craving for alcohol, and just feeling awful.

What can help me to reduce or stop drinking alcohol?
No-one can make you stop or cut down drinking. You have to be committed and determined to do this yourself. However, it can be hard, and one or more of the following may help.

• Accepting the problem
  Some people deny to themselves that they are having drinking problem. The sort of thoughts that some people deceive themselves with include: "I can cope", "I'm only drinking what my mates drink", "I can stop anytime". Accepting that you may have drinking problem, and seeking help where necessary, are often the biggest steps to cutting back on alcohol, or cutting it out completely.
   
• Self help
  Some people are helped by books, websites, leaflets and their own determination. It is thought that about 1 in 3 people who have a problem with alcohol return to sensible drinking, or stop drinking, without any professional help. See the end of this leaflet for a list of resources.
   
• Talking alcohol treatments
  The Salvation Army Bridge programme offers the opportunity to evaluate the alcohol use and explore ways to bring things under control again. We can help you to talk through the issues in more detail and help you to plan how to manage your drinking. Through treatment tailored to individual needs, people with drinking problem can recover and lead productive lives. The ultimate goal of alcohol treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce alcohol abuse, improve the patient's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of alcohol addiction and dependence.
   
  Choosing an alcohol treatment program is choosing to begin a new and better way of life. It's important to remember that, just as alcohol addiction don't happen overnight, neither does the process of becoming alcohol- and/or drug-free. Recovery is an ongoing process and each aspect of life that is affected by alcohol use must be continuously addressed.