This week is Alcohol Awareness Week, led by Alcohol Change UK, at the British Liver Trust we are highlighting the harm that alcohol can do to the liver and how to make informed choices about our drinking to ensure our livers stay healthy.
Alcohol is the leading cause of liver disease in the UK. More than 27,000 people in England were admitted to hospital with alcohol-related liver disease in 22/23 and over 5,700 died from alcohol-related liver disease in 2022.
One in five of us are currently drinking alcohol in a way that could cause liver damage. There is a common myth that only ‘alcoholics’ develop alcohol-related liver disease, but even regularly drinking above the guideline amounts can put you at risk.
While the liver has the amazing ability to repair itself, just like an elastic band, it can only take so much damage from regularly drinking too much alcohol. In the process of alcohol being broken-down by the liver, harmful chemicals are released that can damage your liver cells. This causes the scarring (fibrosis) which if not treated in time leads to cirrhosis.
In the early stages of alcohol-related liver disease there are often no symptoms, so discovering liver damage at an early stage allows you to make decisions that will help your liver to recover.
Cutting down on alcohol consumption
The current guidelines state:
- Drink no more than 14 units a week
- Spread drinking out over several days
- Have 2 to 3 consecutive days without alcohol every week
Speak to your doctor if you’d like some support to cut down, they can recommend local services who can help. If you’re worried that alcohol has damaged your liver, ask your doctor to do some tests.
If you are worried about how much you are drinking, download our factsheet for some tips on how to make steps to cut down.
The British Liver Trust’s Nurse-led helpline can also provide practical and emotional support on alcohol related liver disease and signpost to other services.
