Call For People To Mind Their Alcohol Consumption Over The Weekend

With the Six Nations drawing to an end, the Formula 1 season blasting off and St Patrick's Day celebrations swinging into action, the Public Health Agency (PHA) is calling on people to bear in mind their alcohol consumption as they enjoy themselves over the long weekend.

Owen O'Neill, the PHA’s Drugs and Alcohol Lead, said: "Most people will be looking forward to a weekend of fun, so we are just asking people to keep an eye on how much they are drinking and to make sure that alcohol does not spoil the holiday for themselves or others.

"Binge drinking can have lasting effects on your health, such as damage to the liver, heart, brain and stomach, so we want people to take personal responsibility for their drinking and to set limits for themselves.

"It is also important to remember that alcohol can have an impact on your mental wellbeing as there is a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and hangovers can often leave you feeling anxious and low.

"People may be tempted to 'drown the shamrock to drown their sorrows', but if you are already feeling down, drinking can make it worse, so cutting down may put you in a better mood generally."

(CD)