THE DRINK DILEMMA by Jo Henwood

First it was sipping Prosecco at sunset in early summer lockdown, and then ditching Dry January. As we wrestle with ever tougher restrictions, our relationship with alcohol has changed.

Research from Alcohol Change UK found that more than a quarter (28 per cent) of people who have ever drunk alcohol think they drank more during the first lockdown.

A quick scroll through social media during lockdown and as well as recipes for soda bread and the best brownies, many celebrity posts included a glass of wine, a lockdown cocktail or a new drinking game.

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby joked on Keith Lemon’s YouTube channel that she ‘hadn’t stopped drinking’ during

TV presenter, Holly Willoughby

the first lockdown, and that she had ended up with the ‘worst hangover ever’.

Dancing on Ice star Denise van Outen confessed to MailOnline that for three weeks during lockdown ‘everything went out the window’. She said: “I didn’t have a drink for a year. “But then I massively fell off the wagon and drank and drank and ate all the things I shouldn’t.”

Denise Van Outen

I didn’t have a drink for a year. But then I massively fell off the wagon.

Even those who have stayed off the booze for years recognise that lockdown hasn’t been easy for many.

In December, the Oscar winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins took to Twitter to admit that his 45 years of being sober hasn’t always been easy. The 83 year old star of Silence of the Lambs, said: “I was heading for disaster. I was drinking myself to death. I got a little message, a little thought that said: ‘Do you want to live or die?’ And I thought ‘I want to live’. I have my off days and sometimes little bits of doubt and all that but all in all I say hang in there. Today is the tomorrow you were so worried about yesterday. You young people don’t give up.”

Job insecurities, furlough, home schooling, home working and a lack of social interaction have all affected our mental health and for many this has meant a change in our relationship with alcohol.

Peter Lyons, deputy manager of Liverpool Community Alcohol Service (LCAS), says that during lockdown people are drinking more alcohol, more often.

He told MC Magazine: “A lot of people don’t have a structure like they did before and days have morphed into one."

“Some people are furloughed, so have less to do; others find they have an increased workload, with additional stresses like home schooling children. They may be working at home in a small space with other people.

“Extra pressure can lead to reaching for a drink earlier in the day, not sticking to normal limits. Just simply ordering more alcohol when you book your supermarket home delivery slot means you drink it because it’s there.”

A lot of people drink alcohol as a reward.

“A lot of people drink alcohol as a reward. They think: ‘I’ve worked hard today so I deserve a glass of beer' or ‘I’ve looked after the kids all day and now I deserve a glass of wine’. Unfortunately, it’s when one glass becomes two, then the bottle, then two as they start drinking earlier or their tolerance to alcohol has increased."

The fear of catching COVID-19 has actually made some people more committed to getting themselves stronger and healthier. Reducing their alcohol intake is part of that plan to stay healthy.

“When we talk about reward with clients it can be a lightbulb moment. Once they identify that it it’s a chance to reduce the amount, or seek out our support.”

Mindy Johnston, senior recovery worker with Ambition Sefton says alcohol is often used as a crutch in difficult times. “If people are worried their mental health can be affected and they turn to alcohol. It gives us a happy feeling. It can feel like it takes away some of our worries and stresses."

Extra pressure can lead to reaching for a drink earlier in the day.

She says by the time clients reach services like hers, they have reached rock bottom. They may have lost their job, had to leave the family home or been arrested.

She wants people to get help early. “In these unprecedented times there will be many more people unknowingly subjected to substance misuse problems. We want to identify them and offer early help to reduce the damaging effects.”

COVID-19 restrictions mean that most consultations are held online (via systems like Zoom or Skype) and you need to make an appointment.

Peter Lyons says there have been lots of benefits to moving online.

“People have really embraced the technology. Because we are dialling in to them at home they feel more comfortable about taking part in a session,” he said.

Alcohol abuse does not differentiate and Mindy and Peter are both keen to stress that this can affect anyone.

Peter cites one client who was referred after he began work from home. His wife began to work from home and realised how much he was drinking during the day, something he’d managed to hide from her when she was out at work.

However the pandemic has motivated other clients to take positive action.

“The fear of catching COVID-19 has actually made some people more committed to getting themselves stronger and healthier. Reducing their alcohol intake is part of that plan to stay healthy.”

He recalls a woman who, by reducing her alcohol intake was able to identify domestic abuse threats, and has since joined domestic violence support groups.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Ambition SeftonThe service provides help, supportand a wide range of recoveryfocused treatment pathways tothose with a drug and alcoholproblem. You can self-refer(COVID-19 restrictions mean youneed to make an appointment)and treatment includes one to onesupport, detoxification pathways,access to Intuitive Thinking courses,peer support mentoring andpsychosocial support and services.

For services in Bootle telephone 0151 944 5334. For services in Southport telephone 01704 534 759.

Liverpool Community Alcohol Service (LCAS) The service works in local communities across Liverpool with around 75 clinics held each week at easily accessible sites such as GP surgeries. (COVID-19 restrictions mean that Attend Anywhere sessions are now run online). You can ask your GP or any other health or social care professional you are involved with to refer you into services or you can self-refer. For information telephone 0151 471 7784.

NHS website (nhs.uk) gives advice including risks and advice on safe limits.

NATIONAL CHARITIES

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk) is a freeself help group with a 12 step programme to get sober with the help ofregular support groups

Alcohol Change UK (alcoholchange.org.uk) work for a society that is free fromthe harm caused by alcohol. Help and support includes ways to check how muchyou are drinking, tips to cut down your alcohol intake and training for workplaces.The blog page has stories from people who have reduced their alcohol intake,and clever tips for how to refuse an alcohol drink

Drinkaware (drinkaware.co.uk) provides independent alcohol advice, informationand tools to help people make better choices about their drinking. There are tipson how to reduce your drinking, track your drinking or just change your relationshipwith alcohol.

Research cited: Alcohol Change UK Drinking in the UK during lockdown and beyond https://alcoholchange.org.uk/blog/2020/drinking-in-the-uk-during-lockdown-and-beyond. Drinkaware www.drinkaware. co.uk/professionals/press/drinkaware-warns-lockdown-level-drinking-could-have-lasting-impact-as-research-reveals-worrying-drinking-trends. BMJ article www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1987