Up to one million people in the UK have their lives and health seriously damaged by alcohol. Alcohol abuse can occur from any age from childhood up, but the group which have most markedly exceeded the safe limit of 14 units weekly for women are 35 - 44 year old women. 6 High pressure living makes people more likely to drink and when a life stress such as work, family or debt problems occur. It is a social norm to have a drink to feel better. This can lead to heavy drinking which ironically makes the person less able to cope with the problem which caused them to drink.
Many people also drink heavily because of the norms of the social groupings they are in.
Alcohol abuse impacts on all the community. Alcohol loosens inhibitions and serious incidents such as suicide, murder and serious injury from fights or accidents occur while people are under its influence. Serious damage to health can also be caused by alcohol. The main areas affected are damage to the liver, brain, stomach and bones. 15 Women Women are particularly susceptible to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis caused by alcohol.