7 July 2025
This week is Alcohol Awareness Week and the theme this year is “Understanding the link between alcohol and work”.
In line with this year’s theme, we are encouraging Borderers to reflect on the impact alcohol might have on their working lives and how small changes could have a big impact on health, wellbeing and productivity.
Most of us are aware that drinking can impact our sleep, mental health and physical wellbeing, but the connection between alcohol and our working lives is often overlooked. Whether it’s drinking to relax after a stressful day, workplace socials that revolve around alcohol, or using alcohol to cope with job changes or uncertainty at work, the link between our working life and drinking habits can be significant.
Alcohol can affect your concentration, decision-making and motivation, often making it more difficult to perform well at work. It can also increase the risk of serious health problems including heart disease, liver disease and several types of cancer. The financial impact of regular drinking can add up too, which can cause increased stress and anxiety about money and begin a cycle in which people drink more to cope with those stresses.
There are simple, practical steps you can take to cut down on your alcohol intake. Keeping track of how much alcohol you’re drinking each week is a good place to start if you want to understand your drinking pattern and decide if you want to make a change. Having alcohol-free days, choosing low and no-alcohol alternatives, or suggesting different ways to socialise with colleagues and friends can also make a difference. If you drink alcohol to manage stress or anxiety, focusing on things such as exercise, sleep routines or talking to someone you trust may help.
Kirsty Kiln, Public Health Consultant at NHS Borders, said: “Many of us are working long hours, juggling multiple responsibilities, and dealing with stress. It is understandable to seek ways to relax, but the short-term relief alcohol can offer may lead to longer-term consequences on our health, relationships, and our ability to cope with everyday life.
“By making even small changes to drinking habits, real improvements can be seen quickly in terms of physical and mental health, focus and overall quality of life. This Alcohol Awareness Week is a chance to reflect, speak openly and take positive steps for a healthier future inside and outside of work.”
If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s drinking, please reach out to one of our local services.