Alcohol Awareness Week 2026: What’s your relationship with alcohol?

Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 (6-12 July), the annual campaign organised by Alcohol Change UK, invites us to pause and ask a simple but important question: how is alcohol truly affecting your life?

This year’s theme – Alcohol and me: what’s your story? – reflects a growing recognition that alcohol’s influence on our health, relationships, and wellbeing is often more significant than we realise.

In a world where alcohol is often seen as a central part of everyday experiences, from birthday celebrations and barbecues to quiet nights in, it can be easy to overlook the ways in which alcohol may be quietly affecting us.

Whether it’s disrupted sleep, low energy, increased anxiety, or simply a lingering sense of feeling not quite right, alcohol can have a knock-on effect on your physical health, mental wellbeing, and the people around you. It can also put you at real risk of developing serious long-term health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and certain types of cancer.

This year, Alcohol Change UK is inviting people to take a moment to explore the role alcohol plays in their lives – whether that means understanding their alcohol risk level, experimenting with cutting back, or simply learning more.

Here, we explore the latest data on alcohol harm in the UK, the signs of alcohol misuse to look out for, practical tips for cutting back, and how alcohol testing can be used to provide support where it’s needed most.

A shifting relationship with alcohol

There are encouraging signs that attitudes towards alcohol in the UK are changing.

According to a YouGov poll published in June 2026, one in three Brits say they have reduced their alcohol intake compared with a year ago, with most citing a reduced desire to drink as the primary reason.

Financial considerations are also a notable factor, with a third of those cutting back saying they can no longer afford to drink as much as they previously did, while health concerns rank third, cited by around three in ten of those who have cut back.

This shift is reflected in broader behaviour too. Research from Alcohol Change UK found that more than one in two drinkers have attempted to manage their drinking in the past year, and more than a fifth are keen to drink less alcohol this year.  

These trends are undoubtedly positive. A growing awareness of alcohol’s impact on sleep, mood, energy, and long-term health is prompting more people to reflect on their drinking habits, which is precisely the aim of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week.

Despite these encouraging signs, alcohol harm in the UK remains at a significant level, and many people are still drinking in ways that put their health at risk, often without realising it. That’s why campaigns like Alcohol Awareness Week remain as important as ever.

The scale of alcohol harm in the UK

While the trend towards moderation is welcome, the latest data serves as a stark reminder of the damage alcohol continues to cause across the UK.

According to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were 9,809 alcohol-related deaths registered in the UK in 2024, a decrease of 664 deaths (6.3%) compared with 2023, when there were 10,473 deaths, a record high.

While alcohol-specific deaths fell in 2024 for the first time since 2018, they remain significantly higher than before the pandemic.

Between 2019 and 2023, alcohol deaths rose by more than a third, highlighting the lasting impact of the pandemic on alcohol harm.

As the British Liver Trust noted in response to the figures, almost 10,000 people – around one person an hour – lost their lives to entirely preventable conditions.

The data also reveals significant inequalities:

• The rate of alcohol-specific deaths for males remained around double the rate for females, at 20.2 and 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people respectively (ONS).
• People in the most deprived communities are still between three and four times more likely to die from alcohol than those in the least deprived areas, despite drinking less.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland were the UK constituent countries with the highest alcohol-specific death rates in 2024, at 20.9 and 21.4 deaths per 100,000 people respectively (ONS).

With nearly 10,000 lives lost each year to conditions that are entirely preventable, these figures make it clear that alcohol harm remains one of the most pressing public health challenges facing the UK today.

How alcohol affects the body

Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed substances in the UK, and its effects on the body are wide-ranging.

While moderate drinking may feel harmless, alcohol is a toxin that places strain on multiple organ systems, and its impact can accumulate over time, often in ways that are not immediately obvious.

When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream and processed primarily by the liver. While the liver can handle small amounts efficiently, regular or excessive drinking leads to a build-up of toxins that can cause lasting damage across the body.

Some of the ways alcohol can affect physical and mental health include:

• Liver damage: The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol, but heavy or prolonged drinking can lead to a range of serious conditions, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis – a form of permanent liver scarring that can be life-threatening.
• Heart health: Drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure, weakens the heart muscle, and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Cancer risk: Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and has been linked to several types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, colon, and breast.
• Brain function: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, affecting mood, behaviour, coordination, and decision-making. Long-term use is associated with cognitive decline and an increased risk of dependency.
• Mental health: Regular drinking can worsen or contribute to conditions such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Although alcohol may initially feel like it relieves stress, it is a depressant that can make these conditions significantly worse over time.
• Sleep disruption: While alcohol can make it easier to fall asleep, it disrupts the deeper stages of sleep, leaving people feeling fatigued, irritable, and less able to concentrate the following day.
• Digestive health: Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, contributing to acid reflux, bloating, and inflammation. Over time, it can impair nutrient absorption and increase the risk of pancreatitis and ulcers.

It’s worth noting that alcohol’s effects are dose dependent. The more frequently and heavily a person drinks, the greater the risk of developing serious health problems.

However, even drinking within what feels like socially acceptable limits can have a cumulative impact on health and wellbeing that many people don’t connect to their alcohol consumption.

Learn more: The effects of substance misuse

Spotting the signs of alcohol misuse

One of the key messages of this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week is that alcohol can affect us in ways we don’t always recognise.

The effects are not always dramatic or immediately obvious, making it difficult to identify when drinking has moved from a social habit into something more problematic – which is why it’s important to know what to look out for.

Common signs that someone may be misusing alcohol include:

• Regularly drinking more than intended, or finding it difficult to stop once they have started
• Using alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, low mood, or difficult emotions
• Experiencing changes in mood or behaviour, such as becoming secretive, defensive, or irritable when the subject of drinking is raised
• Neglecting responsibilities at work, at home, or in relationships because of alcohol use
• Physical changes such as disrupted sleep, unexplained weight loss, or a declining appearance
• Developing a higher tolerance to alcohol, requiring more to achieve the same effect
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, such as sweating, trembling, nausea, or anxiety

It’s important to remember that alcohol misuse does not always look the same in different people.

Some people can maintain outward appearances of normality while drinking at harmful levels; a pattern sometimes referred to as high-functioning alcohol dependency. Others may not recognise their own drinking as problematic, particularly if it feels consistent with the behaviour of those around them.

This year’s Alcohol Awareness Week encourages us all to take just a few minutes to honestly consider how alcohol may be affecting our lives. If you recognise some of the signs above – either in yourself or someone you care about – it might be time to seek advice and support.

For further guidance and resources, visit Alcohol Change UK or speak to your GP.

Tips for cutting back on alcohol

Whether you’re looking to cut back gradually, take a longer break, or simply become more mindful of how much you drink, small changes can make a significant difference to your health and wellbeing.

Here are some practical steps to help you get started:

• Track your intake: Keep a record of how much you’re drinking each week. Seeing your consumption written down can be a powerful motivator for change.
• Set a weekly limit: The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over three or more days. Using this as a benchmark can help you identify whether your drinking exceeds low-risk guidelines.
  The NHS has published guidance that can help you calculate the number of units you’re drinking.
• Introduce alcohol-free days: Building regular alcohol-free days into your week gives your body time to recover and helps break the habit of reaching for a drink by default.
• Identify your triggers: Many people drink in response to stress, boredom, social pressure, or routine. Recognising the situations that prompt you to drink can help you find alternative ways to respond to them.
• Swap and substitute: The growing range of low- and no-alcohol alternatives now available makes it easier than ever to enjoy the social ritual of a drink without the alcohol. Experimenting with alternatives can take the pressure off social situations where drinking feels expected.
• Pace yourself: If you’re planning to drink at a social occasion, alternating alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks, eating before or during drinking, and avoiding rounds can all help to reduce the amount you consume without drawing attention to the fact that you’re cutting back.

Please note: if you’re concerned that you may be dependent on alcohol, it’s important to seek medical advice before reducing your intake. Withdrawal from alcohol can cause serious symptoms in some individuals, and your GP will be able to advise on the safest way to cut down.

How alcohol testing can support you

Whether you’re seeking personal reassurance, need evidence for legal proceedings, or require support managing alcohol use in the workplace, alcohol testing can play a valuable role in providing clarity, accountability, and peace of mind.

At AlphaBiolabs, we offer the UK’s most comprehensive range of alcohol testing services, with options to suit a wide variety of needs and circumstances. All testing is performed at our UKAS 17025-accredited UK laboratory, ensuring fast, accurate, and reliable results you can trust.

Who can benefit from alcohol testing?

• Anyone seeking personal reassurance or peace of mind about their own alcohol use, or that of a family member
• Private individuals who require a court-approved alcohol test for legal or official matters, such as child custody proceedings, divorce, or driving offences
• Legal professionals, social workers, and local authorities working on family cases where evidence of alcohol use or abstinence is required to inform safeguarding decisions or court proceedings
• Employers looking to implement or support a workplace alcohol testing programme

Types of alcohol test available

Different alcohol tests detect drinking behaviour over different timeframes. Choosing the right test depends on your circumstances and what you need to establish.

The tests we offer include:

• Breath alcohol testing: Measures alcohol concentration in the breath at the time of testing, providing an immediate indication of whether a person is currently under the influence. Useful for point-of-care checks and workplace screening.
• Hair alcohol testing: Analyses a cut hair sample for alcohol biomarkers, providing a longer-term overview of alcohol consumption up to 12 months. Widely used in family law proceedings and safeguarding cases.
• Nail alcohol testing: Tests nail clippings for the alcohol biomarker ethyl glucuronide (EtG), providing a detection window of up to 6 months for fingernail clippings and up to 12 months for toenail clippings. Available as a peace of mind test for members of the public and as a court-approved test for legal matters.

• Blood alcohol testing: Includes several options such as PEth (phosphatidylethanol), CDT (carbohydrate-deficient transferrin), liver function testing (LFT), and MCV testing, each providing insight into alcohol consumption or its effects over different timeframes.

  A CDT blood test is also available for DVLA purposes for individuals required to demonstrate responsible drinking as part of a driving licence application or restoration.

• SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring® (SCRAM CAM®): An ankle bracelet that measures alcohol through perspiration every 30 minutes, providing real-time, around-the-clock monitoring. Particularly effective for demonstrating sobriety as part of court orders or rehabilitation programmes.

For more information about our full range of alcohol testing services, visit our alcohol testing page.

Alcohol testing services you can trust

Alcohol Awareness Week 2026 is a timely reminder that the impact of alcohol consumption on our lives, our health, and the people around us is often greater than we realise.

Whether you’re taking your first steps towards understanding your own relationship with alcohol, supporting a loved one, or working with families affected by alcohol misuse, awareness is always the starting point for positive change.

At AlphaBiolabs, we have over 20 years’ experience providing fast, accurate, and discreet alcohol testing services to members of the public, legal professionals, social workers, local authorities, and employers across the UK.

With our UKAS 17025-accredited UK laboratory, nationwide network of walk-in centres, and a range of flexible testing options to suit every need and circumstance, we’re here to support you whatever your situation.

For more information about our alcohol testing services, or to request a quote, contact our friendly and knowledgeable team on 0333 600 1300 or email info@alphabiolabs.com.

You can also visit our Learning Centre to learn more about alcohol testing.