Alcohol Awareness Week 2025: Let’s Talk About Alcohol and Work

WORK AND ALCOHOL

You may not think of your job when you think of alcohol, but for many of us, the two are more connected than we realise. In Surrey, over 25% of adults drink at levels that could be harmful to their health. And often, work pressures and routines play a role.

Stressful deadlines, long hours, after-work drinks, and blurred lines between our work and personal lives can all lead us to drink more often — or rely on alcohol to cope. What might start as a way to unwind after a tough day can, over time, affect your productivity, sleep, mental health, and relationships.

While alcohol might feel like a short-term escape, it often makes things worse in the long run. It can increase anxiety, disturb your sleep, lower your mood, and reduce your ability to cope with everyday stress.

That’s why this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week is all about understanding the impact of alcohol on our working lives and helping people make healthier, more informed choices.

KNOW YOUR UNITS

Awareness starts with knowledge. Many people don’t realise how much they actually drink,  or what counts as “risky” drinking.

Here’s what the UK’s low-risk drinking guidelines advise:

• Men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units per week, spread over three or more days
• There is no completely safe level of drinking — even small amounts can affect your health over time
• 1 unit of alcohol equals 10ml (or 8g) of pure alcohol, which looks like:
  • A small glass of wine (125ml at 12%)
  • Half a pint of average-strength beer (4%)
  • A single shot of spirits (25ml at 40%)

What Does 14 Units Look Like?

• 6 pints of beer (4%)
• 6 medium glasses of wine (175ml at 13%)
• 14 single shots of spirits (25ml at 40%)

It adds up faster than you think. Take the 2-min Alcoholwise Test to see how many units you’re drinking and changes you might be able to make.

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