Are you ready to “Rethink Your Drink”?

A new scorecard, which tracks your drinking habits, is being delivered to all islanders as part of a campaign to help people understand their drinking habits.

Delivered by Guernsey Post as part of a Health Improvement Commission, the “Rethink Your Drink” scorecard lets islanders monitor how many units of alcohol they consume each week.

Andrea Nightingale, Substance Use Lead from the Health Improvement Commission, said: “This scorecard is about helping people get a clearer picture of where they are today and giving them the confidence to think about where they would like to be tomorrow.

“We know many people find it difficult to work out how much they drink, so the scorecard is a simple, interactive and engaging way to help people understand their intake and know where to go for support if they need it.”

The 2023 Wellbeing Survey found that 35.2% of drinking adults aged 16 and over reported drinking more than 14 units in the last week.

This is the maximum recommendation of the UK Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk guidelines – around 6 pints of medium strength lager, 6 medium glasses of wine, or 7 doubles of spirits. These should be spread across three or more days, with at least 2 teetotal days per week.

Units can be difficult to estimate, so the scorecard gives islanders a tried and tested tool to calculate their unit intake and compare it to the guidelines.

Ms Nightingale added: “Small changes really can add up to a big difference, and for many people, simply knowing their number could help them consider whether any changes might benefit their health and wellbeing.”

If islanders see their consumption is higher than expected, or would like advice and support, they can access local services.

Adults can get free support from the Independence and the Community Drug Alcohol Team through a referral or through their GP.

Young people under the age of 25 can access support through Action for Children, which gives dedicated, tailored support to the needs of young islanders.

More information can be found on the campaign’s website.