Tag: alcohol

LEAP rehab service fully restored

People living in Lothian with serious alcohol and drug problems can now access help from an expanded rehabilitation service.

The Lothians and Edinburgh Abstinence Programme (LEAP) is providing more placements than ever before thanks to its renewed partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council and support from the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board and The Cyrenians.

Up to 22 people can now benefit from one of the intensive three-month residential placements to overcome their addiction in a safe and supportive environment. The service provides clinical, medical and therapeutic support backed up by two years of aftercare and peer support and a family programme.

The boost will help to significantly reduce waiting times for patients looking to access the service following lockdown. It is in line with Scottish Government priorities for increasing residential rehabilitation provision.

Dr David McCartney, Clinical Lead for LEAP, NHS Lothian explains: “As a direct result of the pandemic we had to reduce service capacity to just 40 per cent. While we continued to provide some patient support remotely, our residential services were reduced to just 8 places.

“With the help of our partners we are back operating the full range of services again, helping even more people to get help and support as quickly as possible.

“The majority of LEAP patients starting the programme complete it. Nearly two thirds of them reach their goal of a long-term successful alcohol and drug-free recovery with significant improvements in their mental and physical health.”

LEAP is currently operating as a partnership between NHS Lothian, the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership, The Cyrenians, Access to Industry and Rehabilitation and Recovery Team Social Workers.

It offers detoxication and therapeutic treatment for people who want to become alcohol and drug free alongside structured, practical support to get into work or education as part of people’s recovery if needed.

Patients can also access psychiatry, psychology and occupational therapy services whilst in treatment.

Lesley Taylor, Registered Manager, City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We’re delighted to be working with LEAP again to help roll-out this essential service. 

“Our team have a valuable role in providing accommodation and support, not only for the initial three-month placement but also in assisting individuals address their longer-term housing needs.” 

Linda Nichol, a volunteer with NHS Lothian’s subsistence misuse team and former LEAP patient and PEER supporter encourages anyone struggling with addiction to access the service. She said: “LEAP changed my life. It helped me recognise that I had a disease and gave me the confidence and support I needed to turn my life around.

“If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction then ask for help and get referred into LEAP. It is possible to change your whole life beyond your wildest dreams.”

LEAP is open to people who have a serious problem with alcohol or other drugs.  Anyone interested in being assessed for residential treatment should speak to their GP, health, support or social care worker. 

More information can be found at: 

https://services.nhslothian.scot/leap/Pages/default.aspx

Police update: Six arrests following disorder in Portobello

Chief Inspector Murray Tait, Local Area Commander for North East Edinburgh, said: “Our officers responded to a number of incidents involving youths in the Portobello area over the course of the weekend, including violence and antisocial behaviour.

“As a result of these reports, extensive enquiries have been undertaken and we can confirm that 6 arrests have been made to date. Further enquiries remain ongoing.

“It was unfortunate to see a small minority ruin the good weather for the rest of the community with their actions which have no place in Portobello. I want to make it absolutely clear that those who attend with the intention of causing violence and disorder are not welcome.

“Portobello Beach is a fantastic area, with great local businesses and is enjoyed by many families and young children who come to visit the area.

“I would like to reassure the public that there will be a significant police presence in the area, so we can robustly deal with anyone causing issues in the coming days. If you have any concerns about criminality, please speak to officers, call 101, or call 999 in an emergency.”

Closing soon: Scottish Whisky Action Funding for activities tackling alcohol-related harm

Up to £25,000 available to eligible projects – closes 28th June

The Scotch Whisky Action Fund (SWAF) provides funding to eligible projects specifically set up to reduce the negative impacts of alcohol-related harm. Only open once a year, the fund is inviting new applications before the deadline at  noon on Monday 28th June. 

Managed by Foundation Scotland, SWAF has so far awarded over £800,000 to over 70 projects operating across the country since its launch in 2013.  The fund is focused on supporting innovative initiatives and activities specifically designed to tackle alcohol-related harms in Scotland’s communities. 

Groups such as Rowan Alba, Waverley Care, Edinburgh Young Carers Project, and Govan Youth Information Project have received project support. 

Jennifer McPhail, Programmes Advisor at Foundation Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to be running this important funding stream again.  Now in its eighth year, the Scotch Whisky Action Fund has already made a massive impact on individuals and communities affected by alcohol related harms.

“The alcohol industry plays an important role in Scottish society, and Scotch Whisky is at the heart of the industry.  However, the misuse of alcohol through excessive or inappropriate consumption can have implications for health and a range of social problems, including anti-social behaviour, violence, family breakdown, problems with money and work.  This can impact individuals, families and communities.  

“The fund is not set up to support recovery or treatment of alcohol issues. Rather it’s for innovative projects  that educate, raise awareness, and  prevent future alcohol-related harm. Examples of projects include preventative training programmes and diversionary activities for young people, peer support groups for carers and family member counselling services. 

“There are many examples of previously funded projects available on our website and we are advising interested groups to carefully read through all the guidance before applying. The closing date is coming up soon so we are encouraging those that are interested to progress quickly as the fund only opens once a year.” 

Projects which secure funding from SWAF, and can demonstrate an impact after their first year of funding, may be able to receive further funding of up to £25,000 per annum for a maximum of three years, to support their initiative.

For full information, including eligibility criteria and application details visit, https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/scotch-whisky-action-fund

Alcohol sales in Scotland fell to 26-year low in 2020

Minister welcomes figures but pledges further action

Overall alcohol consumption in Scotland fell to a 26-year low during 2020, according to a comprehensive report published today by Public Health Scotland.

The annual Monitoring and Evaluating Scotland’s Alcohol Strategy (MESAS) report brings together data on alcohol consumption, price and related harms into a single publication. It shows that total alcohol sales fell 5% on the previous year, to the lowest level recorded since 1994.

Last year, COVID-19 restrictions affected alcohol sales from premises such as pubs, clubs, and restaurants.  Nine in every ten units of alcohol sold in Scotland in 2020 were sold via off-trade outlets including supermarkets and other off-licences – an increase from seven in every ten units in 2019.

In addition to the evidence from 2020 – the year of the pandemic – today’s MESAS report also details a 10% year-on-year reduction in the number of deaths wholly caused by alcohol in 2019.

Commenting on the results of the studies, Public Health Minister Maree Todd said: “I welcome this report showing that total alcohol sales in 2020 fell to their lowest level for 26 years.

“The study provides valuable insight allowing us to gauge the impact of alcohol sales and consumption during the period of the pandemic. Clearly COVID-19 and the associated restrictions have had a dramatic impact on the hospitality trade, but these figures demonstrate that the restrictions in place did not simply translate into an increase in the total amount of alcohol being consumed. In fact, the opposite is the case.

“We have already seen that alcohol sales were falling since the introduction of our world-leading Minimum Unit Pricing policy in 2018. We know that it will take longer for the full impact of reduced consumption to feed through into health related statistics, but I am more convinced than ever that MUP is one of the main drivers in reducing alcohol harms. 

“Although this is the largest recorded year-on-year reduction in alcohol sales – and also the narrowest recorded gap between sales north and south of the border – it is important to bear in mind that the average number of units drunk during this period was still nearly 30% per cent more than the UK Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines of drinking no more than 14 units a week.

“In addition to these 2020 figures, the report also details a 10% reduction in the number of deaths caused wholly by alcohol in 2019. While we are on the right trajectory, this still equates tragically to nearly 20 deaths every week across Scotland – each one preventable.

“We continue to make progress in reducing inequalities across a number of public health areas – remaining focussed on addressing the underlying causes that drive health inequalities and doing more to address harms from alcohol. I am determined to build on this progress including consulting on potential restrictions to alcohol advertising and promotion.”

LOST SUMMER?

Scottish licensed trade operators are braced for “potentially another lost summer” after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said this week that it is “unlikely” that any part of Scotland will move down a level from June 28.

Responding to the First Minister’s suggestion that current restrictions will remain in place for a further three weeks, and national clinical director Jason Leitch’s widely-reported comments that Scotland’s lockdown exit plans could be pushed back by up to 10 weeks due to the more infectious Delta strain of coronavirus, the SLTA said: “Another summer season, essential for business survival, will be lost.”

The trade association’s managing director Colin Wilkinson pulled no punches, stating: “The hospitality sector is at breaking point with Tuesday’s announcement that the brakes are on for further easing of restrictions.”

Calling for further financial aid to ensure the survival of the licensed hospitality industry as it plays its part in rebuilding the economy, Mr Wilkinson said: There needs to be an extension to the current support schemes available such as furlough, VAT reduction, deferral of loan repayments and so on.

“Our pubs and bars have already invested millions to provide a safe environment as we all learn to live with this virus and we need to be able to open without restrictions as soon as we can.

“Currently, we can only operate at around 30% of our capacity, but with increased staff costs to provide table service and fewer tables because of social distancing rules, most business continue to operate at a loss, racking up further debt every time they open the doors.

“For those still unable to open because of their size or the entertainment they provide, such as late opening premises and night clubs, it is another devastating blow for an abandoned sector crippled by restrictions and with no route map out of the pandemic.

“Tuesday’s announcement created further uncertainty for the industry and the people it employs. We understand the need for caution but the Scottish Government must also understand that this delay will cost an already beleaguered  industry millions of pounds and puts in jeopardy the future survival of many of the pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and late night operations that form part of Scotland’s social fibre.

“Our big fear is that the Glasgow fan zone could lead to further Covid outbreaks followed by a fresh lockdown, forcing licensed premises to close again when they have only just managed to start reopening.”

Drink-drive warning as beer gardens re-open in Scotland

-Insurance giant urges motorists to think twice before getting behind the wheel-

Clare Egan, Head of Motor Product at Admiral, said: “As beer gardens re-open across Scotland, we risk seeing a rise in the number of people tempted to get behind the wheel after a drink, putting other road users, pedestrians, and themselves in danger.

“It’s vital to understand the implications of taking this risk and we’d urge all motorists to think twice before getting in their car to drive after having an alcoholic drink.

“Being caught over the limit can see a driver face up to 6 months in prison, an unlimited fine and a driving ban of at least one year, not to mention the potential life-changing impact it can have if it leads to a crash.

“Those convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol could find their insurance premiums increasing by more than 250% – that’s if they can get insurance at all. But the financial penalties don’t stop there, if you do have an accident while drink-driving many insurers will refuse to cover the cost of damages, meaning drivers could be left with hefty sums to pay including the cost of third-party claims.

“There are many different factors that could impact your ability to drive safely. Weight, age and metabolism all play a part in alcohol tolerance, meaning it is virtually impossible to know if you are safe to drive. Even the smallest amount of alcohol will affect how you drive, so the only way to be really safe is to avoid drinking altogether when you know you are taking the car.

“As the UK slowly eases out of this lockdown, many people will be looking to enjoy the relaxing of some of these restrictions. Make sure you consider another way to get to and from the pub safely, and whatever you do, don’t be tempted to drive.”

One Year No Beer witnesses 287% increase in people seeking help

Empowering people to change the world’s relationship with alcohol, Edinburgh-based One Year No Beer saw its biggest intake in 2020, following an unprecedented year that drove many out of their comfort zones and into the arms of unwanted habits.

Scooping Spectators Economic Innovator of the Year Award, and Great British Entrepreneur for Scotland and Northern Island, the behaviour change programme and online toolkit for surviving modern society alcohol free, is working tirelessly to support people towards making positive lifestyle choices.

With over 80,000 members in 90 countries, last year the platform witnessed an increase of 287% in searches for coaching and quadruple the number of courses purchased.

Ruari Fairbairns, Co-Founder and CEO of One Year No Beer, explained: “We help people change their relationship with alcohol which, leads to most of them fundamentally transforming their lives – for the better.

“We are developing technology that will enable members to connect over the common goal of changing behaviour, be that caffeine, sugar, gambling, social media and ultimately empowering our members to help the world, live life better.”

Currently One Year No Beer is a content and digital publishing business with the backing of a powerful global following. The intention now is to pivot into a technology business scaling the proven model to become a global wellbeing brand that will help people reduce unnecessary anxiety they have in life enabling them to be the best version of themselves.

Ruari Fairbairns explains what they have done to keep up with demand: “We have stripped out cost, optimised customer journeys and done an enormous amount of foundational work in preparation for scaling even further.

“Due to the pandemic, we are all having to work remotely, but this has only strengthened our offering, allowing us to focus more money into the platform and its abilities. On top of everything we did to prepare for another year like last, we will also soon be launching our long-awaited Web App and, we also have a few secrets up our sleeve that are going to make 2021 one to remember, for all the right reasons!”

OYNB is not an abstinence programme; it is not about eliminating alcohol entirely. It’s about empowering people to break down old habits and build new ones, creating a positive mindset that lets the individual take back control and make clear-sighted decisions.

For more information visit https://www.oneyearnobeer.com

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip: Improving Sleep Quality

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion at Heart Research UK

IMPROVING SLEEP QUALITY

March is National Bed Month and therefore there has never been a more relevant time to start thinking about our sleep.

Many people across the UK can find it difficult to get the quality and quantity of sleep that they need. Lack of good quality sleep can affect how our body works, such as by changing the levels of hunger and stress hormones in our body during the day, which can increase our blood pressure and affect our heart and circulatory system.

For adults it is recommended to try and get around 8 hours of sleep per night, but sometimes it can be the quality of our sleep which keeps us from topping up our energy levels.

With this in mind, here are some tips for getting the shut-eye we need:

Exercise

Exercising can strengthen our heart and arteries but can also improve the quality of our sleep. Whilst any kind of exercise can be of benefit, ensure that any exercise conducted 1-2 hours before going to bed is at a low to moderate intensity to prevent an increase in stress hormone release before going to bed. This may include a short walk or activities such as yoga.

Be Consistent

Having a consistent bedtime routine can help us to wind down during the evening. Simple steps such as taking a hot bath or changing into pajamas can help to prepare both our body and our mind for sleep.

Regulate Light Exposure

Light exposure helps us to regulate our body clock. When it gets dark, our body secretes a hormone called ‘melatonin’ which helps us to sleep. By getting exposure to natural light in the day and limiting our exposure to screens and bright lights late at night, we can help to improve our overall sleep quality.

Avoid Late-Night Coffees

It is recommended to avoid caffeine past 2pm. This is because caffeine, a stimulant found mainly in coffee and tea, has a half-life of around five hours. This means that if you drink a cup of coffee at 5pm, half of it will still be left in your bloodstream at 10pm and this can affect your sleep quality.

Avoid Alcohol

Although some people may find it easier to get to sleep after having a glass of wine, alcohol is known to stop us from being able to enter the deepest stage of sleep and therefore can leave us feeling tired the next day. Excess alcohol consumption can also lead to weight gain which can place strain on our heart.

Heathy Heart Tip: Dry January

Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Tip, written by Dr Helen Flaherty, Head of Health Promotion and Education at Heart Research UK

Dry January

This month is Dry January, when lots of people around the UK stop drinking alcohol for the month and try to address the effects of overindulgence during the festive season. If you have not yet joined in, it is not too late!

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of high blood pressure, some types of cancer, weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other long-term conditions. Whether you are taking part in Dry January or not, Heart Research UK wants to help you manage your drinking habits for a healthier you in 2021.

Understand alcohol units
Alcohol content varies between different types of drink and different brands of similar drinks. Check the labels so you know exactly how many units are in each serving of your chosen tipple. Go online to find easy-to-use unit calculators to help you track your intake over the week and compare drinks. Alcohol units | Alcohol Change UK 

How much can I safely drink?
For men and women, the maximum recommended alcohol units each week is 14, spread over 3 or more days. If you are pregnant it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol at all. Drinkaware provide assessment tools that you can use to track the amount you are drinking: https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/tools

Stay on track
Try to keep yourself on track by regularly reminding yourself of the health and financial benefits of cutting down on drinking. Avoid temptation by removing alcohol from your home or hiding it away. Even if you are not seeing friends and family in person, you can connect with people online who are also trying to cut down or quit drinking to provide support and motivation. By telling other people about your intention to control your drinking, you are more likely to stick to it.

Manage your drinking during the pandemic
Many people have increased the amount of alcohol they consume at home during lockdown and it may sometimes feel that there is little else to do. Instead of drinking, focus on positive activities, such as setting physical activity goals or learning a new skill.

Alternatives to Alcohol
Develop your taste for alcohol free alternatives, such as reduced calorie soft drinks and squash, herbal teas or water with slices of lemon, lime, mint leaves and ice. Try making your own mocktails or mix things up with some sparkling water or tonic water as an alternative to alcoholic bubbles and garnish with chunks of fresh fruit to add colour.

Reward yourself for your success
Decide on a reward that will motivate you to achieve your goal and keep reminding yourself about it whenever you are tempted to have a drink. Avoid using alcohol as a reward.

Getting help when needed
If you are consuming more than 14 units a week, take steps to address it. You can get support by visiting: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/

Dry January tips

10 Dry January tips from RUARI FAIRBAIRNS, Co-Founder and CEO of Edinburgh’s One Year No Beer:

How to set yourself up for successfully drinking less next year, when so many of us have relied on alcohol to help get through the pandemic:

2020 has been such a challenging year for so many, but it’s time to think about how to start planning for success – God knows we all deserve some!

With this in mind, here are my 10 top tips to help you get ahead of the game so that you can go into 2021, firmly on your A-game. 

  1. Be sure to stock up on alcohol-free drinks so that when you’re feeling the need to drink something at the end of a long day, there are plenty of tasty alternatives for you to enjoy. Why not order yourself a new different alcohol-free drink to try every weekend throughout January and February so that you can look forward to having a tasting session and enjoying and talking about the different flavours? Make it exciting!
  2. Cutting back on the booze will also do wonders for your bank balance so pick something that you have wanted for a long time and then set aside the money that you would have otherwise spent on alcohol, so that you can save up for it and finally buy it.
  3. Make a promise to yourself that you are going to get healthy in 2021 – use the calorie calculator on the OYNB website to calculate how many calories you will be saving by cutting back on the booze.
  4. Remind yourself of the importance of sleep when it comes to mental and physical health – alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, it’s a myth that a glass of wine will help you to relax enough to sleep. Alcohol causes slow-wave and REM sleep cycles to be impacted, resulting in shorter sleep cycles which are disrupted. After removing alcohol from your diet you will sleep in deeper and longer cycles and this will really help your body to rest and repair each night.
  1. Set yourself a fitness goal – whether it’s a marathon, or simply a 5km walk around the local park, once alcohol is removed from your diet, your body will have more energy for physical exercise, so help yourself to stay on track, by picking something to focus on and work towards.
  1. Speaking of exercise, remind yourself that this is a marathon, not a sprint. There is no point abstaining from alcohol in January, only to go full throttle at it again in February. This will simply do more damage than good. Take some time to educate yourself about the shorter-term benefits of abstaining from alcohol – these only improve over time.
  1. Forgive yourself for ‘blips’ – Much like dieting, which is also bad for you! – people slip up from time to time and instead of giving up because you are disappointed in yourself, learn to quickly forgive yourself so that you can put it behind you and get back on track. There’s no use wallowing in one bad decision or a moment of weakness. In fact, focus on your Streak achieved instead!
  1. Address barriers to your success head-on by explaining to your friends and loved ones, what you are doing and why – maybe even ask them to get on board and join you. By speaking directly to these people and explaining why you are not drinking, it will help you to get them on side, and enable them to see things from your perspective.
  2. Tune in to the impact of alcohol on your mental health – Alcohol is one of the most common and unhelpful coping strategies for stress, depression and anxiety. Yet overuse of alcohol can contribute to the worsening of mental health issues and lead to lower moods and anxiety. Using alcohol will not address any mental health problems, but only make these issues worse.
  1. Finally, if you are still struggling with all of this, take some time to identify what might be sitting at the root cause of your need to drink alcohol – is it your job? Are you having problems in your relationship? Have you got money worries? If you take some time to uncover the triggers, then this will go a long way to helping you to address them.

Founded in 2015, OYNB is an award-winning behaviour change programme and online toolkit for surviving modern society alcohol-free, aimed at anyone drinking more than 3 glasses of wine a week.

With a member base of over 80,000, they believe that having a community is crucial to making a positive lifestyle change, and so the founders are constantly finding new and exciting ways to provide this support.

OYNB is not an abstinence programme; it is not about eliminating alcohol entirely. It’s about empowering people to break down old habits and build new ones, creating a positive mindset that lets the individual take back control and make clear-sighted decisions.  They are now developing technology that will enable members to connect over their common goals, such as caffeine, sugar, gambling and social media.

For more information visit https://www.oneyearnobeer.com 

OYNB to offer 25% discount on all products for Cyber Week 2020

Substantial discounts will support people towards regaining control of their relationship with alcohol amidst UK’s crisis

Discount deals will run from 24th November 00:01 GMT until 30th November 00:00

Recent data shows that millions are turning to alcohol to cope with the pandemic – leading to a decline in both physical health and mental health for many across the nation.

In a bid to support those in need and encourage them to kick start their ’New Year Now’, the online toolkit for surviving modern alcohol-free society, OYNB will be offering a blanket discount of 25% across all of their products for this year’s Cyber Week.

Ruari Fairbairns, Co-Founder and CEO of OYNB comments: “It’s absolutely devastating to read these recent reports confirming the number of people drinking at ‘high risk’ levels has doubled to almost 8.5million since February.

“By offering a huge discount on our products at the end of this month, we really hope that it will encourage people to invest in themselves and turn things around now so that they can move into the new year feeling happier and stronger both physically and mentally.”

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People interested in addressing their relationship with alcohol will be able to bag themselves discounts on all of the OYNB Challenges which are designed to cover 28, 90 and 365 days.

They will also be able to purchase discounted Alcohol Free Me bundles as well as Accelerator calls and the OYNB Mastermind aimed specifically at anyone who has been alcohol free for 90 days or more.

Fairbairns continues: “Many people are already aware of the fact that they drink too much, but it’s more important than ever for them to address this and work towards going into the new year in a positive mindset.

“Through offering these discounts as part of this year’s Cyber Week we really hope that people will start to take action now! And for those who want to delay this a little, for whatever reason, we are also offering people the opportunity to delay the start date of their challenges to the 1st January.”

OYNB has recently launched their New Year Now campaign which aims to support people towards making positive lifestyle choices now, rather than waiting for key milestone dates like Dry January or the start of 2021 to kickstart their path to recovery.

The sole mission behind the campaign is to encourage people to acknowledge the impact that C19 has had on their drinking behaviour and support them in committing to a longer alcohol-free streak than just one month. That commitment will empower them to start 2021 off with a really solid foundation for physical and mental health and wellbeing.

For more information, and to purchase any of their challenges, visit https://www.oneyearnobeer.com/