World No Alcohol Day 2022
2nd October
World No Alcohol Day is observed on October 2nd. It focuses on the dangers of alcohol, whilst also encouraging the world to stop and say no to alcohol, if only for one day. For people who aren’t addicted to alcohol, moderate alcohol use below 14 units per week is the advised limit. Being able to say no to alcohol is key.
How did it start?
It all began in 2008 at a meeting of the World Health Assembly, which is the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation (WHO).. It was a proposal made by India for a global alcohol-free day to take place on Gandhi’s birthday, made by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, India’s Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. He said the purpose of the day was to draw attention to the health risks of alcohol abuse, and his proposal was supported by 11 Southeast Asian countries.
The proposal came as part of a larger effort by the WHO to reduce alcohol-related problems. All 193 member states at the time signed a resolution calling for a global strategy to address the issue to be developed over the next two years. While it is unclear what happened to the proposal itself, the day went ahead, and now it is globally recognised as a moment to pause and consider.
What are the dangers of Alcohol?
If you’re not sure what the dangers of alcohol are, WHO produced some statistics to put the dangers into context:
Every year the harmful use of alcohol causes 3 million deaths. There is a relationship between the harmful use of alcohol and many mental and behavioural disorders, and the harmful use of alcohol brings social and economic losses to individuals and societies. Harmful alcohol use also plays a role in 200 diseases and injuries.
As an organisation that focuses on rehabilitation from alcohol addiction, we feel this day offers an opportunity to think differently about alcohol. We will be standing in solidarity on October 2nd with everyone who is reconsidering their relationship with alcohol. We are always here to listen to people who are struggling and do not know where to turn.
Taking a moment to pause can often be the catalyst that leads to people seeking help for problem drinking, and starting a new chapter. Global events like World No Alcohol Day offer a bigger picture, which can help people connect to helpful information and resources.
Observing the day
If you would like to observe the day, there are a few things you can do to honour and open up the conversation about the day itself.
Talk to your loved ones
If you have supportive and trusting relationships with family and friends, then why not open up the conversation around alcohol and drinking? The day itself gives an opportunity to bring alcohol up in conversation, tosee how you and those around you are doing. Harmful alcohol use is a subject that is often avoided in conversation, and drinking heavily can be a normalised behaviour in certain social situations. Speaking candidly and openly with the ones we love about our relationship with alcohol can be helpful to explore new ways of being.
Speak to young people around you
If you have younger people around you, speak to them about the facts about alcohol and how it can affect them. It isn’t about scaring them, and it isn’t about telling them what they can and cannot do (if they are of legal drinking age), but it is about giving them all the facts and empowering them with the knowledge to make their own decisions. Young people can be susceptible to peer pressure and binge drinking culture, so this is a good time to speak with them and increase their awareness around alcohol.
Check in on a friend
Even the ones who seem like they have it all together – check on them. Alcohol addiction can affect people in different ways, and we see many of our clients able to hold down work, jobs, family life, and friendships, all while in the depths of alcohol addiction. Alcohol can impact your mood, so having someone to talk to can make all the difference. You could text your friend, call them, or ask them to go for a walk or a coffee, to see how they’re feeling and doing.
Seek alcohol help and support
If you are suffering from alcohol addiction, now is a good time to seek help and support. There are a number of free resources and helplines available, and of course, we are here for you too. We help our clients deal with their addiction and build a life away from alcohol. If you want to speak to a member of the team, then you can call us on +44 (0) 208 191 9191 or email us on enquiries@helpmestop.org.uk, and we can have a confidential chat.
Educate yourself and those around you about alcohol
Read up on the dangers of alcohol and how it can impact your mood and life. It may surprise you what you find, and you may be encouraged to step away from alcohol, even if you are not dealing with addiction. Once you have done a little research, share this knowledge with others to spread the word and help friends and family understand the dangers, too.
About Help Me Stop
At Help Me Stop, we know that stopping drinking can seem a lot easier than it actually is. Alcohol addiction can affect anyone, to a number of degrees. We are here to help people no matter where they are at in their journey, providing intensive alcohol treatment to stop drinking and stay stopped.
We are an alcohol addiction recovery organisation offering non-residential rehab to those suffering from addiction. We have face-to-face services in London and Winchester, and an online programme too, to help our clients stop.
Non-residential rehab means that our clients do not stay on site with us. They visit us for their sessions and integrate rehab into their daily lives. This means that they can still continue with work and family life, learning how to build the tools and skills they have learned into their version of normality.
Our treatment programme centres around integrative psychotherapy, which blends a number of evidence-based therapies, including the 12 step approach to addiction treatment, person-centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, family therapy, art therapy, recovery workshops, mindfulness, and more. We work mainly in group sessions, and every client also has a one-to-one counselling session each week with their focal counsellor.
More than anything, we are here to listen and here to support our clients navigate this next phase of their lives. Plus, when the programme is over, we offer three months of free aftercare to our clients, so they can be sure that they have everything they need to maintain sobriety..
We’re different from residential rehab, firstly in the obvious sense that our clients stay off-site, but also because our programme is significantly cheaper and more accessible than traditional rehab programmes. We saw a gap for affordable and accessible rehab, and we created what we call Dayhab, to offer intensive addiction treatment to many thousands more people.
Seeking Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with their relationship with alcohol, please do get in touch. We are here to listen without judgement and help you, or them, find the right solution. You can call us on +44 (0) 208 191 9191 or email us on enquiries@helpmestop.org.uk, and we will be here to help you stop.
