Alcohol Awareness Week UK 2025
Let me be clear — this isn’t a lecture.
If you're someone who enjoys a drink or two now and then, this isn't an attempt to make you feel guilty. In fact, I’m not here to tell you to stop drinking altogether. That’s a personal decision, and for many people, alcohol plays a small and harmless part in their social life.
But here’s what I’ve noticed, both as a GP and just talking to people, more and more patients are coming in with symptoms they can’t explain.
Chronic fatigue.
Anxiety that seems to come out of nowhere.
Sleep that never quite feels restful.
Low mood that lingers.
Digestive issues that flare up.
And somewhere in the conversation, we’ll get to lifestyle.
“I don’t drink much.”
“Just a glass of wine at night.”
“Only on weekends.”
That’s when we pause.
Because even low-level, regular alcohol use can have a much bigger impact on your body and brain than most people realise.
1. Alcohol & Your Sleep – The Quiet Saboteur
You might fall asleep faster after a drink — that’s true. Alcohol acts as a sedative. But it disrupts the quality of your sleep later in the night.
Specifically, it suppresses REM sleep, which is the deep, restorative phase your brain needs to process emotions, repair the body, and consolidate memory.
If you find yourself waking up groggy, irritable, or foggy despite “sleeping through the night”, alcohol could be playing a role.
2. Mood, Anxiety & The Aftermath of Drinking
Alcohol messes with your brain chemistry. It temporarily increases dopamine — the feel-good chemical — but later drops serotonin, which helps regulate mood.
This is why some people feel anxious or low the day after drinking, even if it was just a couple of drinks.
For others, this low mood accumulates subtly, and they don't link it back to drinking at all.
3. Alcohol and Gut Health
Many people don't realise how deeply alcohol affects the gut — from causing inflammation to disrupting the balance of bacteria that keep your digestive system running smoothly.
Symptoms like bloating, indigestion, or even IBS-like flare-ups can sometimes trace back to regular alcohol consumption
4. It’s Not Always About ‘How Much’ You Drink — But How Often
We tend to only worry if we’re drinking a lot — but the frequency matters, too.
Your body doesn't get much recovery time if you're having alcohol three or four nights a week, even in small amounts. The liver is remarkably resilient, but it still needs rest.
If you’re drinking even a little, but often, your sleep, mood, and energy may be paying the price.
5. What You Can Do
This week Alcohol Awareness Week - UK 2025, is not about judgment. It’s about giving people real information so they can make better decisions for themselves.
So here’s a small checklist to reflect on:
- Do you rely on alcohol to relax after a long day?
- Have you noticed your sleep quality dropping?
- Do you wake up more anxious after drinking?
- Are you more tired during the day than usual?
- Are you drinking more often than you used to?
If you answered “yes” to a few, it’s not a crisis it’s just a sign to take a closer look
To reduce health risks, the NHS advises drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, spread over several days.
We’re Here to Help —No Judgment, Just Support
At Cornerstone GP Services, we’re not just about appointments and prescriptions. We’re here to help you understand your body, make sense of your symptoms, and take small, meaningful steps toward better health.
If you’re unsure whether alcohol might be affecting your energy, sleep, or digestion, let’s talk about it.
Need to talk to someone about alcohol, energy, or sleep issues? Book a private GP consultation in East London
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Let’s help you feel better without the guesswork.