Drinkwise Derby

15/12/2022

Stay safe when drinking over the festive season. Head over to www.drinkwisederby.org.uk for friendly tips and advice on staying in control of your drinking at home and when you’re out partying!

28/10/2022

Halloween is fast approaching. It is that time of the year where we enjoy anything scary. However, we do not enjoy a scary hangover. Whether you are having a quiet night in, going to a house party, or going out somewhere to celebrate this fun time of the year, there are always ways that you can cut down on your alcohol.

If you have been doing sober October, well done! You are nearly there and hopefully you have noticed a difference in your skin, energy levels and productivity.

Here is a round up of some of the best mocktails that you can have this spooky season:

• Black Mocktail. Recipe can be found at: https://mocktail.net/signature-collection-black-mocktail/
• Pumpkin Pie Mocktail. Recipe can be found at: https://mocktail.net/pumpkin-pie-martini-mocktail/
• Calling all Harry Potter fans! Non-alcoholic Butter Beer. Recipe can be found at: https://mocktail.net/butter-beer/

If you don’t fancy a mocktail, why not have a hot drink? There are a lot of Halloween inspired hot drinks to try.

Here is a round up of the best hot drinks this Halloween:
• Green Hot Chocolate. Recipe can be found at: https://lilluna.com/halloween-hot-cocoa/
• Halloween Hot Vanilla Milk. Recipe can be found at: https://www.twosisterscrafting.com/halloween-hot-vanilla-milk/
• Halloween Hot Chocolate. Recipe can be found at: https://www.midgetmomma.com/halloween-hot-chocolate/
• Pumpkin Spice Latte. Recipe can be found at: https://www.midgetmomma.com/starbucks-pumpkin-spice-latte/

Don't forget to comment below any Halloween non alcohol drinks or mocktails that we have missed!

If you feel like you need support with your drinking, check out https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/

There is the option to refer yourself for specialist support that is tailored to you through the Drinkwise website.

Our Black Mocktail is truly amazing - It looks fancy and it tastes oh so good!⁠ This Mocktail recipe is also great for a cocktail party.

10/10/2022

Today is World Mental Health Day.

There are strong links between alcohol use and mental health.

Many people use alcohol to manage their mental health and some people can have poor mental health because of their substance use.

Many people can use alcohol to relax them and combat feelings of anxiety, but alcohol use can make anxiety worse over time. Hangovers can also give a person bad anxiety and may make you feel worried to speak to people or go to places where you wouldn’t usually feel nervous. You can feel low in mood after the effects of alcohol have worn off and if you use alcohol regularly for a long period of time, your levels of dopamine are lowered. This makes you feel lower in mood, hence the urge to turn to alcohol as a result.

If you do suffer with mental health difficulties, although alcohol provides short-term relief from these symptoms, it makes your symptoms worse in the long term which creates a vicious cycle. Many people find coming off alcohol or reducing alcohol use to be a great improvement in their anxiety levels and their mood. However, if you are alcohol dependent, do NOT stop drinking without medical guidance.

If you are struggling with your mental health, there is a lot of support available; head to your GP for support and take a look at our list of mental health support and resources below:

Services
• https://derbycitylifelinks.org.uk/
• Trent PTS: You can refer yourself via the link: https://www.trentpts.co.uk/self-referral
• Talking Mental Health: You can refer yourself via this link: https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/services/talking-mental-health-derbyshire
• Vita Health Group: You can refer yourself via this link: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/make-a-referral/
• https://www.derbyshiremind.org.uk/

Helplines
• NHS: 0800 028 0077
• Samaritans: 0330 094 5717
• CALM: 0800 58 58 58

Apps
• Quit That!
• I am Sober
• Headspace
• Talkspace
• Calm
• Moodkit

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.

There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

Derby City Life Links supports and sign posts for those with mental health needs, crisis and general support for benefits and advice through our network of partners in the Derby area. For all your mental health & physical wellbeing needs visit Derby City Life Links for free, impartial advice.

04/10/2022

It is officially October. That means it is officially Stoptober. There are many reasons to give up smoking; it can benefit your physical health greatly; it can be helpful for saving your money and I am sure that there are plenty of personal reasons for you to stop. Although, it is easier to give up one habit at a time, there are many reasons for you to cut down on your alcohol this month too. Alcohol and ci******es are often used alongside each other. If you smoke, you are more likely to drink. As well as this, having ni****ne in your system increases the amount of alcohol that you drink.

Many smokers are social smokers, smoking only when they are drinking, so if you want to cut down on your smoking if you fit into the social smoker category, one step to take would be to restrict your drinking. There are lots of tips on our page to be more conscious of your drinking habits.

Here are some other ways to make it easier to give up during Stoptober:
• Do it with a friend – it is always easier to give up something if you have encouragement from others.
• Make a list of activities to do instead. Want some inspiration? Look back at our previous post from July 29th with a list of activities for you to try.
• Think about your environment. There are many environmental factors that can affect your drinking and smoking. Are you drinking and smoking more in certain situations/places? Think about what you can do to take yourself out of these situations or restrict the amount of time you are spending in these situations/places.
• Replace your smoking and drinking with a somewhat healthier habit; is there a particular drink that you enjoy or a certain snack that you like, a hobby that you enjoy or something else that relaxes you? Slowly replace your smoking and drinking with this behaviour.
• Reflect on your behaviours; why do you do it? What do you gain from it? What are the negative effects of your substance use?
• Keep a journal to keep track of your behaviours; are you feeling stressed, bored, or anxious? What environment are you in? When are you getting cravings? Writing everything down can help you to understand your behaviours which can lead to you making changes.

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.

There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

26/08/2022

It’s holiday season! Do you have a holiday booked?

Holidays are great for a well-deserved rest and break, but it can also mean that you could be drinking more than the recommended amount of 14 units per week.

All inclusive can be great value but it can be easy to take advantage of the unlimited amounts of alcohol. Even though I am sure you want to make the most out of your money and drink without any limits, don’t forget that your safety comes first and all inclusive or not, hangovers are never fun!

Here are some tips to ensure that you make the most of your money, whilst managing your health:
- For every alcoholic drink, have a soft drink. This is an easy way to manage your alcohol consumption.
- Keep a bottle of water at hand – it is very easy to become dehydrated in the warm weather especially if you are drinking alcohol.
- Try to do activities that don’t involve drinking – this is an easy way to cut down on your alcohol consumption and you will be having so much fun that you won’t even be thinking about having a drink.
- Got a beach holiday planned? Make plans to wake up early and have a beach day so you are more likely to stop drinking earlier the night before.
- Make sure that you are eating; it is very easy to lose your appetite when it is warm but ensure that you are lining your stomach but also getting your energy!
- Why not try out some mocktails? Whether you are on holiday with your partner, friends, or family maybe you can all have a drink free day together.

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.

There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

Friendly tips and advice for people who want to stay in control of their drinking, including specialist support for Derby residents

12/08/2022

Festival season is in full swing and there is one thing that you are probably very likely to be surrounded by: alcohol.

Although you can have a great time without drinking, here are some tips to stay safe during festival season if you are drinking:
1. Ensure that you eat before you start drinking and eat at regular intervals.
2. Once you have started drinking, ensure that you pace yourself. If you struggle with this, some easy ways to do this are to have a soft drink in between every alcoholic drink and/or choose drinks with a lower alcohol percentage.
3. Stay in groups; don’t leave anyone by themselves.
4. If you are taking drugs; make sure that you are not mixing them with alcohol and always remember that you do not know how drugs will affect you and your body.
5. Make sure to have breaks; drinking alcohol and dancing for hours is a recipe for dehydration, so ensure you have a bottle of water to hand and take regular breaks.
6. Make sure to go into the shade and to not spend too long in the sun. The mixture of alcohol and the heat means that your body will find it hard to cool down and you will be at risk of heatstroke. When you have been drinking, your body also finds it harder to regulate your temperature.
7. Do not leave your drink unattended, do not accept drinks from strangers and keep an eye on your friends and those around you to ensure that not only you are safe but others around you are too.
8. Be aware of how long it takes alcohol to leave your system. If you are driving the next day, make sure that you stop drinking early enough to not be over the driving limit.

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.

There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

08/08/2022

You may have heard about all the focus on gut health in recent years.

There are many things that can affect your gut health; one of which is your alcohol consumption. Moderate alcohol consumption, which is no more than 14 units a week, is not likely to affect your gut but any more than this means you are more likely to have problems in your gut.

Our gut has bacteria; both good and bad and alcohol can affect the balance of this bacteria as well as the digestion of sugars. This leads to a change in the gut’s normal fungal diversity, causing overgrowth of a type of yeast called candida. This causes your abdomen to feel uncomfortably bloated. Although any type of alcohol can lead to bloating, candida is more commonly linked to beer as apposed to wine or spirits.

Leaky gut: Drinking too much alcohol can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut. This means the ‘bad’ bacteria which causes inflammation and irritation in the gut increases, whilst the ‘good’ bacteria which aids in digestion decreases. Too much ‘bad’ bacteria can lead to a leaky gut meaning that the intestinal wall allows bacteria and other toxins into the bloodstream.

Although, there are many ways that you can look after your gut health, cutting down on alcohol could be a good step in the right direction.

Here is a mocktail that is full of great, nutritional ingredients that your gut will love:
Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail

Ingredients:
• Kombucha
• Cranberry juice
• Fresh ginger
• Fresh rosemary
• Fresh cranberries
• Ice

Recipe:
1. Fill 4 glasses with ice and set aside.
2. In a pitcher, mix sliced ginger and rosemary together using the end of a wooden spoon or a muddler if you have one.
3. Add cranberry juice and kombucha, stir gently to combine.
4. Pour into ice-filled glasses (using a strainer, if necessary) and garnish with sprigs of rosemary, a slice of fresh ginger, and a few cranberries before serving.

The full recipe is available at: https://therealfooddietitians.com/sparkling-cranberry-kombucha-mocktail/

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.

There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

This alcohol-free Sparkling Cranberry Kombucha Mocktail is a festive and healthy way to celebrate without the headache. Whole30 | Paleo | Vegan - Serves 4

29/07/2022

Summer is now in full swing and that usually means one thing: beer gardens!

Sitting in the sun and having some cocktails sounds tempting I know, but how about trying some mocktails instead or better yet, have you thought about other ways you can enjoy the sun? Here are a few activities that you can enjoy which won’t give you a hangover tomorrow:

1. Read your favourite book in a calm outdoor space.
2. Get all your favourite foods together and have a picnic.
3. Go camping – if there are no camping sites near you, camp in your garden.
4. Go to a theme park – rollercoasters release your endorphins giving you a natural high.
5. Have a spa day – want to regularly enjoy spa facilities? Why not join a gym near you to enjoy the gym as well as the spa facilities? There are many gyms who do free day passes too so you can try before you buy!
6. Go for a walk.
7. Go for a boat ride.
8. Go for a drive in the countryside and stop off at the prettiest place you can find.
9. Go to the zoo or a farm.
10. Go to a café, sit outside, and enjoy the sun with a cake and an iced coffee.
11. Make a list of hobbies that you want to try over the summer – pick one to begin with and then work through your list.
12. Go to a car boot sale – if you have things to sell then you can make yourself some extra money and if you don’t have anything to sell, why not have a browse and find yourself some bargains?
13. Go to a different city and explore all the attractions – much more exciting than staying in the same place for the whole afternoon, wouldn’t you agree?

Have a look at https://www.drinkwisederby.org.uk/ for some more great tips on managing your alcohol use.
There is also a self-assessment and the option to refer yourself for specialist support.

Friendly tips and advice for people who want to stay in control of their drinking, including specialist support for Derby residents

22/02/2022

An auspicious date today - 22.2.22! Why not mark it by a having a drink free day or two and feel the benefits of cutting down on your drinking? Head to www.drinkwisederby.org.uk to learn more about those benefits and get friendly advice and tips on drinking less.

Friendly tips and advice for people who want to stay in control of their drinking, including specialist support for Derby residents

18/02/2022

Want to cut down on your drinking? List all the benefits you can think of. Focus on what you’re gaining, not what you’re giving up and write down some specifics which matter to you. Visit www.drinkwisederby.org.uk for more about benefits of drinking less and help with staying in control.

Friendly tips and advice for people who want to stay in control of their drinking, including specialist support for Derby residents

15/02/2022

How much is too much? We all respond to alcohol differently but following the low risk drinking guidelines is a good place to start for everyone. Visit drinkaware to find out more. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcoholic-drinks-and-units/how-much-alcohol-is-too-much?fbclid=IwAR3uimlyM4gyXkqkHGmUn5YziK0XHQ6jN92j-R7PiJTIt85-u7sil8uivjc

Find out how to stay within the low risk drinking guidelines and keep the risks to your health at a minimum.

14/02/2022

Making changes to your drinking can not only improve your own health and wellbeing but can also help your relationships too. For handy advice about staying in control when out for a drink - even on a Valentine's date - visit www.drinkwisederby.org.uk.