Balance North East

03/12/2025

Supermarkets and convenience stores are stacked with cheap, strong alcohol.

This makes people buy and drink more than they realise.

Many in the North East think it’s wrong that alcohol is so easy to get everywhere.

For tips and support to cut back visit
www.reducemyrisk.tv

01/12/2025

🎄Karen says in the run up to Christmas, shops are full of cheap, strong alcohol, which makes it easy for people to buy too much. Many people think this isn’t right.

Christmas can also be a really hard time for people who have had experienced alcohol addiction. Listen to Karen. 🔽

28/11/2025

Sarah from Durham used alcohol as a ‘coping mechanism’ for many years. After realising the negative impact it was having on her life she cut it out.

Since quitting she feels her whole life has improved - she’s been promoted at work and bought a house.

24/11/2025

By law, most food and drinks have to display labelling such as hidden calories – but not alcohol – why?

Our research shows people want better labelling with 7/10 of people in the NE supporting mandatory health labelling on alcohol.

We took to the streets of the North East to hear what people have to say. 🦻

19/11/2025

Today, on International Men’s Day, we’re shining a light on something that often stays in the shadows.

Men are more likely to struggle with alcohol-related problems than women, but far less likely to talk about it.

It’s not because men don’t feel - it’s because so many have been taught that they shouldn’t. From “lad culture” to after-work pints, alcohol is woven into so many spaces where men bond, unwind, or try to cope. But sometimes those habits can turn into silent battles.

If this is you - or someone you love - you’re not alone.
Reaching out isn’t weakness. It’s courage.

For support and advice visit www.ReducemyRisk.tv

17/11/2025

Alcohol causes around 1 in 3 mouth cancers, while drinking and smoking together increases the risk of mouth cancer by up to 30 times.

The more you drink, the higher your risk.

This , remember alcohol can harm your health - even years later.

For hints and tips to cut down visit https://reducemyrisk.tv/

12/11/2025

We don’t always see the hidden damage of alcohol.

Kelly’s drinking crept up over time until she was told her liver – the part of the body that cleans out toxins – was close to failing.

With help, Kelly stopped drinking and is now healthy and happy. She says life feels calmer, brighter, and more enjoyable without alcohol.

Drinking might seem normal, but it can hurt your body and your life. If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available.

For help and support to reduce your drinking visit ReducemyRisk.TV

https://shorturl.at/0KNW6

10/11/2025

🚨 8 out of 10 adults in the North East think alcohol is a big problem – not just here, but across the country.

People are worried because it’s so easy to get – you can buy it in shops, petrol stations, post offices, and even some soft play areas.

Hear what people in our region have to say about why they believe things need to change 🔽

06/11/2025

Killer Tactics: How Big Companies Put Profit Over People

Did you know that alcohol and big to***co companies use similar tactics to try and make money, regardless of the impact on our health?

This new report shows exactly how they do it.

When these companies make more money, it can mean:

❌ More people smoking or drinking too much
❌ More harm in local communities
❌ More pressure on our NHS

Find out the full story here 🔽

https://ahauk.org/resource/killer-tactics-2

30/10/2025

From childhood to adulthood, and as a mum, Karen from Newcastle knows first-hand the damage alcohol can cause. But too few people are aware of the risks – such as harms to unborn children and as a cause of cancer

7 out of 10 North East adults would like to see mandatory health warnings on drinks – including 6/10 agreeing that warnings about cancer should be included as a right to know.

Our Blueprint to Reduce Alcohol Harm asks the government to protect people’s health and well-being.

27/10/2025

The alcohol industry has targeted women with pinked up drinks, glamorous ads and the notion that drinking is an essential part of friendship. But it doesn’t ever convey the problems.

After losing her mum, Viki turned to alcohol to cope - but it was damaging her health.

In 2021, she decided to quit and started Sober Socials, helping hundreds of people find support and connection without alcohol.

That connection changed everything.

💻 For advice and support, visit: www.reducemyrisk.tv

27/10/2025

Sheridan, a mum from Jarrow, only learned that alcohol causes 1 in 10 breast cancers after she was diagnosed herself.

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she is encouraging people to find out more, cut down on alcohol, do what they can to stay fit and healthy, and take up screening appointments.

NHS recommendations are that women recovering from breast cancer limit alcohol intake to no more than 5 units per week – two standard glasses of wine – to help reduce the risk that it comes back.

Read Sheridan's story in Chronicle Live. ⬇

Sheridan Dixon says she had never considered the connections between drinking alcohol and breast cancer - until she was diagnosed herself.