NHS BORDERS say that over a quarter of people reported that they have been drinking more than usual during lockdown with many saying that they felt concerned about it.

Sometimes people can be unaware how easy it is to lose track of how much alcohol they drink and whether it could be causing harm.

Health chiefs believe that being aware of how many units you are drinking and learning ways to reduce risks to your health and wellbeing can help you make informed choices.

People are urged to drink no more than 14 units per week to keep their health risks from alcohol low, try to spread their drinking evenly over 3 or more days and to try to have several alcohol-free days each week

Tim Patterson, Director of Public Health at NHS Borders said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has understandably left many of us with feelings of anxiety and worry and these factors may lead some people to increase their drinking. However increased drinking can lead to more health and social problems and to a higher tolerance meaning you need to drink more for the same effect, which leads to a greater reliance on alcohol.

“Over time, excessive use of alcohol can also lead to a variety of chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. If you are concerned about how much you or a loved one are drinking, please know that there is a lot of support available in the Borders. For more information click here.

“It is also incredibly important to proactively look after both your physical and mental health, recognising that these stresses won’t necessarily go away with the easing of pandemic restrictions. You can find some great tips for looking after your wellbeing at https://clearyourhead.scot/.”