Islington Tribune - by PETER GRUNER Published: 11 April 2008
Dr Gillian Greenhough
Alcohol costs economy ‘millions’
ISLINGTON residents were urged this week to think about what they drink and the effects that it can have on their health and wellbeing.
Dr Gillian Greenhough, an Islington GP, was promoting Alcohol Awareness Week. The chairwoman of the Islington Primary Care Trust’s professional executive committee, Dr Greenhough said: “It’s all about promoting awareness of sensible habits and making sure people know where the benefits of drinking end and the risks begin.
“For those who drink, alcohol is something to be enjoyed. Drinking in moderation should not cause problems but drinking too much or at the wrong time can be harmful.”
The week also aims to persuade policy makers to devote more resources to alcohol treatment.
Dr Greenhough said: “You should always try to have a few days of the week when you don’t drink alcohol at all – but don’t ‘store up’ your units and then binge drink later on in the week.
“Binge drinking can affect your personal safety and put you at risk of other serious health problems.”
Alcohol misuse costs the local economy – for a population the size of EC1 – as much as £10 million a year, she added.
You can check if you are drinking more than the healthy limit and get other handy tips on cutting down by visiting www.drinkaware.co.uk