Is your drinking starting to feel like too much?
For many of us, having a drink is part of celebrating, relaxing, or unwinding after a busy day. But sometimes, having more than planned is easy - a few extra pints or glasses of wine.
If you’re thinking about cutting back or stopping, our AlcoholWise support programme can help.
This short quiz helps you understand your drinking habits and whether cutting back could benefit you.
It will help you understand your drinking level, whether it could be affecting your health, and what steps to take next—whether that’s self-help tips or professional support. It only takes 2 minutes find out!
Take the AlcoholWise test.
The UK’s alcohol guidelines recommend no more than 14 units of alcohol a week spread evenly across 3 days or more. That’s roughly:
- 6 pints of lager (4% strength)
- 6 175ml glasses of wine (13% strength).
Understanding alcohol units
| Drink (and measure) | Units | ABV percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A shot of spirit | 1 unit | 40% ABV |
| A bottle of beer/lager/cider | 1.5 units | 4.5% ABV |
| Pint of beer/lager/cider | 2.2 units | 4% ABV |
| A small glass of wine (175ml) | 2.2 units | 4% ABV |
| A large glass of wine (250ml) | 3.1 units | 12.5% ABV |
| Bottle of wine (750ml) | 9.8 units | 13% ABV |
Drinking more than the recommended limit of 14 units a week can lead to:
- trouble sleeping or feeling tired all the time
- mood swings or increased anxiety
- poor concentration or memory lapses
- changes in weight or general health.
If you’re noticing any of these, it might be time to take a closer look at your drinking habits.
Take the AlcoholWise test.
AlcoholWise is a free NHS support programme run by the specialist team at i-access. It’s designed to help people who drink more than the recommended limit but don’t experience physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop.
The programme offers up to six telephone-based sessions with an experienced alcohol worker. These sessions are flexible and tailored to your goals - whether you want to cut down or stop drinking altogether.
We can help you:
• Set realistic goals for reducing or stopping your drinking
• Identify triggers and manage cravings
• Build new habits and feel more in control
You must be aged 18 or over and live in Surrey to use this service.
If you do experience withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, sweating or feeling unwell after a few hours without alcohol it’s important to reduce your drinking safely. Find support for alcohol dependence here.
Cutting back can make a big difference:
- Feel more energised and focused
- Improve your sleep and mood
- Protect your long-term health
- Save money and take control of your habits.
If you’re ready to make a change, here’s how to get support:
Take the AlcoholWise test: Find out if this programme suits your needs.
Refer yourself online: Complete our referral form, and we’ll get in touch.
or
Call us: Speak to our team at 0300 222 5932 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm).
