How is alcohol affecting you?

Date: 8 July 2026
Topics: Health and wellbeing

It's Alcohol Awareness Week and, in line with this year's theme, 'Alcohol and Me', we're encouraging you to take just two minutes to check the role drinking plays in your life.

You may feel you want to understand more about alcohol risk levels, or cut back; even experiment with being alcohol-free for a time.

We get it - exploring your relationship with alcohol might feel uncomfortable. That’s okay - you're not alone. But it might be a sign that this is just the right time to learn more, get advice and take a step forwards.

Drinking less can:

boost your energy
reduce anxiety
improve your health and relationships, at home and at work

Get back in control by:

taking this simple online quiz to ‘Know Your Score’ and see how much you drink, how it might be impacting you and ways to cut down
trying to limit your weekly alcohol intake to 14 units and not drinking all your units at once. Use the Alcohol Change UK's unit calculator to work out how many units you drink. Watch this NHS video that explains the alcohol measurement ‘units’
downloading the free Try Dry® app to help you cut down on your drinking or go totally alcohol-free. You could also give at least two drink-free days a week a go

“...don't feel you need to manage alone - ask for support”

Professor Anjan Ghosh Director of Public Health, Kent County Council

Kent County Council Director of Public Health, Professor Anjan Ghosh, said: “Whatever place you are at in life, consider using this Alcohol Awareness Week to check in on your relationship with alcohol.

“You might want to reduce the amount your drink for health and wellbeing reasons including sounder sleep, healthier weight and lower blood pressure.

"Or you might be worried about someone else's drinking, or living with a family member struggling with harmful drinking.

"All these situations can be extremely destructive and difficult so don't feel you need to manage on your own - ask for support."

“Alcohol harm is a major contributor to poor health, particularly in our coastal communities”

Jamie Henderson Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health

KCC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health, Jamie Henderson, said: "Alcohol harm is a major contributor to poor health, particularly in our coastal communities.

"It's one of the key reasons why we are working with leading health inequalities expert Sir Michael Marmot and his team to improve the conditions for good health in our coastal towns, including boosting employment and skills."

Read about the Kent's Marmot Coastal Region work

If you are concerned about your drinking, or someone else’s, KCC commissions Forward Trust to run the East Kent Community Drug and Alcohol Service and Change Grow Live to run the West Kent Drug and Alcohol Wellbeing Service. Visit their websites for advice and support.

Early signs you or a loved one may need specialised treatment for alcohol misuse include heightened anxiety when not drinking, all-day 'sessions' and blackouts.