Alcohol Calculator
To gauge how much you are drinking, pick from the options below. The chart on the right will update to show your level of alcohol intake and calculate your risk level.
Risk levels are explained in detail if you click the 
icon on each one.
0
units per
week
Physically dependent
The units you are drinking places you in physically depenant category.
Your current level of drinking means you are at a high risk of becoming physically dependent on alcohol. It might be that you are already experiencing some problems, which although you are not aware of it, might be directly linked to your drinking. You might have raised blood pressure, trouble sleeping, increased anxiety, low moods or depression. All of these symptoms and others may be linked to the amount of alcohol you are drinking. It is not unusual to think that drinking alleviates the problems and helps you to sleep, or reduces your anxiety, but in fact the levels you are drinking will make all these symptoms worse! You may find that you are also experiencing financial or relationship problems, and that those close to you are giving you a hard time about your drinking. If this is the case it would be a good idea to speak in confidence to one of our alcohol counsellors either via our chat line or in person, at a safe venue, such as a clinic or health centre near to your home, to help you work through some of these problems, click here to contact us (link words CONTACT US to how to find us page). Our counsellors can help you identify triggers to drinking, help you cut down your drinking or to have some time off, so that the problems you are experiencing can be sorted out.
Your family members can also access support if they feel this is affecting them. Or you might want to come along with family members so that you can work on this together. We will treat you with respect and help you to achieve your own drinking goals, we can also quickly put you in touch with other services that might be of help.
There also is a chance that if you have children (particularly younger children), that they will be being affected by your drinking. Take care to ensure that they are safe from harm and get the support and stability they need. Click here to access some guidelines to help you with this. There are also some specialist services who can support you and them, link to useful contacts/other services for information. You are probably an excellent parent so don’t think that if you ask for support you will have your children taken from you! Our aim is to support families to stay together, and to give you the best possible chance to be an even better parent without alcohol!! Call our counselling and support team on 0845 308 4010 if you would like to talk about this.
Physically dependent
The units you are drinking places you in physically depenant category.
Your current level of drinking means you are at a high risk of becoming physically dependent on alcohol. It might be that you are already experiencing some problems, which although you are not aware of it, might be directly linked to your drinking. You might have raised blood pressure, trouble sleeping, increased anxiety, low moods or depression. All of these symptoms and others may be linked to the amount of alcohol you are drinking. It is not unusual to think that drinking alleviates the problems and helps you to sleep, or reduces your anxiety, but in fact the levels you are drinking will make all these symptoms worse! You may find that you are also experiencing financial or relationship problems, and that those close to you are giving you a hard time about your drinking. If this is the case it would be a good idea to speak in confidence to one of our alcohol counsellors either via our chat line or in person, at a safe venue, such as a clinic or health centre near to your home, to help you work through some of these problems, click here to contact us (link words CONTACT US to how to find us page). Our counsellors can help you identify triggers to drinking, help you cut down your drinking or to have some time off, so that the problems you are experiencing can be sorted out.
Your family members can also access support if they feel this is affecting them. Or you might want to come along with family members so that you can work on this together. We will treat you with respect and help you to achieve your own drinking goals, we can also quickly put you in touch with other services that might be of help.
There also is a chance that if you have children (particularly younger children), that they will be being affected by your drinking. Take care to ensure that they are safe from harm and get the support and stability they need. Click here to access some guidelines to help you with this. There are also some specialist services who can support you and them, link to useful contacts/other services for information. You are probably an excellent parent so don’t think that if you ask for support you will have your children taken from you! Our aim is to support families to stay together, and to give you the best possible chance to be an even better parent without alcohol!! Call our counselling and support team on 0845 308 4010 if you would like to talk about this.
Higher Risk
The units you are drinking places you in the higher risk catagory.
Your current level of drinking means you are at a high risk of becoming physically dependent on alcohol. It might be that you are already experiencing some problems, which although you are not aware of it, might be directly linked to your drinking. You might have raised blood pressure, trouble sleeping, increased anxiety, low moods or depression. All of these symptoms and others may be linked to the amount of alcohol you are drinking. It is not unusual to think that drinking alleviates the problems and helps you to sleep, or reduces your anxiety, but in fact the levels you are drinking will make all these symptoms worse! You may find that you are also experiencing financial or relationship problems, and that those close to you are giving you a hard time about your drinking. If this is the case it would be a good idea to speak in confidence to one of our alcohol counsellors either via our chat line or in person, at a safe venue, such as a clinic or health centre near to your home, to help you work through some of these problems, click here to contact us (link words CONTACT US to how to find us page). Our counsellors can help you identify triggers to drinking, help you cut down your drinking or to have some time off, so that the problems you are experiencing can be sorted out.
Your family members can also access support if they feel this is affecting them. Or you might want to come along with family members so that you can work on this together. We will treat you with respect and help you to achieve your own drinking goals, we can also quickly put you in touch with other services that might be of help.
There also is a chance that if you have children (particularly younger children), that they will be being affected by your drinking. Take care to ensure that they are safe from harm and get the support and stability they need. Click here to access some guidelines to help you with this. There are also some specialist services who can support you and them, link to useful contacts/other services for information. You are probably an excellent parent so don’t think that if you ask for support you will have your children taken from you! Our aim is to support families to stay together, and to give you the best possible chance to be an even better parent without alcohol!! Call our counselling and support team on 0845 308 4010 if you would like to talk about this.
Higher Risk
The units you are drinking places you in the higher risk catagory.
Your current level of drinking means you are at a high risk of becoming physically dependent on alcohol. It might be that you are already experiencing some problems, which although you are not aware of it, might be directly linked to your drinking. You might have raised blood pressure, trouble sleeping, increased anxiety, low moods or depression. All of these symptoms and others may be linked to the amount of alcohol you are drinking. It is not unusual to think that drinking alleviates the problems and helps you to sleep, or reduces your anxiety, but in fact the levels you are drinking will make all these symptoms worse! You may find that you are also experiencing financial or relationship problems, and that those close to you are giving you a hard time about your drinking. If this is the case it would be a good idea to speak in confidence to one of our alcohol counsellors either via our chat line or in person, at a safe venue, such as a clinic or health centre near to your home, to help you work through some of these problems, click here to contact us (link words CONTACT US to how to find us page). Our counsellors can help you identify triggers to drinking, help you cut down your drinking or to have some time off, so that the problems you are experiencing can be sorted out.
Your family members can also access support if they feel this is affecting them. Or you might want to come along with family members so that you can work on this together. We will treat you with respect and help you to achieve your own drinking goals, we can also quickly put you in touch with other services that might be of help.
There also is a chance that if you have children (particularly younger children), that they will be being affected by your drinking. Take care to ensure that they are safe from harm and get the support and stability they need. Click here to access some guidelines to help you with this. There are also some specialist services who can support you and them, link to useful contacts/other services for information. You are probably an excellent parent so don’t think that if you ask for support you will have your children taken from you! Our aim is to support families to stay together, and to give you the best possible chance to be an even better parent without alcohol!! Call our counselling and support team on 0845 308 4010 if you would like to talk about this.
Increasing Risk
The units you are drinking places you at an increasing risk.
Your drinking is at a level which might begin to cause some problems for you. It might be that you sometimes “binge drink” so that your unit intake quickly mounts up in a short space of time, but at other times you don’t drink much at all. This doesn’t mean that you are safe from the harms of alcohol, being able to go without alcohol for a period of time doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t develop a problem. Looking at the reasons why you “binge” can be helpful and our advisor’s and counsellors can help you work through using coping strategies to deal with high risk situations, cues or triggers to binge drinking.
It might be that rather than binge drinking you are drinking more than the recommended daily units, each day. If this is the case reducing the number of drinks you consume or drinking lower strength drinks can dramatically reduce your weekly unit intake. Keeping a drinks diary is a good way to check this, try using the on line drink diary. This can be a good way to start to reduce your drinking. If you would like advice or support to cut down your drinking, you can chat on line or contact our service to arrange a confidential appointment.
If you are concerned, contact us on 0845 308 4010
Increasing Risk
The units you are drinking places you at an increasing risk.
Your drinking is at a level which might begin to cause some problems for you. It might be that you sometimes “binge drink” so that your unit intake quickly mounts up in a short space of time, but at other times you don’t drink much at all. This doesn’t mean that you are safe from the harms of alcohol, being able to go without alcohol for a period of time doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t develop a problem. Looking at the reasons why you “binge” can be helpful and our advisor’s and counsellors can help you work through using coping strategies to deal with high risk situations, cues or triggers to binge drinking.
It might be that rather than binge drinking you are drinking more than the recommended daily units, each day. If this is the case reducing the number of drinks you consume or drinking lower strength drinks can dramatically reduce your weekly unit intake. Keeping a drinks diary is a good way to check this, try using the on line drink diary. This can be a good way to start to reduce your drinking. If you would like advice or support to cut down your drinking, you can chat on line or contact our service to arrange a confidential appointment.
If you are concerned, contact us on 0845 308 4010
Lower Risk
The units you are drinking places you in the lower risk category.
Your drinking is just within recommended limits, so don’t worry or be too concerned. If you have no other physical or mental health problems, it is unlikely that your current drinking level is posing any significant risk to you. However it is always useful to have breaks from alcohol – a period off alcohol can be beneficial both to your health, your finances and your weight!! (Click here to learn about calories in alcohol). – Having at least two to three alcohol free days each week is also recommended, this can help prevent you moving into the increasing risk area and will help you not to become dependent on alcohol. If you have children you will need to ensure that they are receiving the right messages about drinking – that these are balanced and that they see that alcohol is used appropriately. If you want to find out more about giving safe drinking messages to your children you might like to read our keeping children safe information.
If you are concerned, contact us on 0845 308 4010
Lower Risk
The units you are drinking places you in the lower risk category.
Your drinking is just within recommended limits, so don’t worry or be too concerned. If you have no other physical or mental health problems, it is unlikely that your current drinking level is posing any significant risk to you. However it is always useful to have breaks from alcohol – a period off alcohol can be beneficial both to your health, your finances and your weight!! (Click here to learn about calories in alcohol). – Having at least two to three alcohol free days each week is also recommended, this can help prevent you moving into the increasing risk area and will help you not to become dependent on alcohol. If you have children you will need to ensure that they are receiving the right messages about drinking – that these are balanced and that they see that alcohol is used appropriately. If you want to find out more about giving safe drinking messages to your children you might like to read our keeping children safe information.
If you are concerned, contact us on 0845 308 4010
