Alcohol and drugs
Change Grow Live can support you if you'd like help to make positive changes to cut down on alcohol or stop your drug use.
Fewer drinks, fewer calories
Alcoholic drinks contain more calories than many people realise. For example, a standard glass of wine has around 158 calories — similar to a small chocolate bar.
By drinking less alcohol, you can lower your daily calorie intake, which can help with losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.
Long‑term health benefits
Cutting back on alcohol doesn't just help your waistline. Over time, it can also:
Even small changes, like having more alcohol‑free days each week, can support better long‑term health.
Medical warning!
If you are dependent on alcohol, stopping suddenly or reducing your alcohol too quickly can lead to severe health complications such as fits (seizures). It is important to seek help from your GP or support service such as Change Grow Live.
Drug use
Drug use doesn't have to be daily to be a problem. It may be a concern if you, or the person you care for, find it hard to get through the day without them, or feel unwell when stopping. This includes illegal drugs like cannabis or cocaine, but also prescription painkillers.
Concerned about your drug use, or if you are worried about a friend, family member or colleague. Change Grow Live (Alcohol and Drug Integrated Recovery Service) offer confidential, free, friendly and non-judgmental advice.
Contact them on 0151 482 6291 or visit their website for more information
If you're not sure how much alcohol you're drinking, try the NHS Drink Free Days app.
You can find it by searching "Drink Free Days" in your usual app store.
The app helps you set goals, track your progress, and build healthier habits — one step at a time.
You can also watch this NHS video on ways to drink less.
If you're worried about your drinking or drug use, or if you are worried about someone else. Change Grow Live (Alcohol and Drug Integrated Recovery Service) offer confidential, free, friendly and non-judgmental advice.
Contact Change Grow Live on 0151 482 6291 or visit their website for more information.
There is no completely safe level of drinking, but you are at lower risk of harming your health if you drink less than 14 units of alcohol a week.
That's the same as drinking six medium glasses of wine or six pints of 4% beer, lager or cider.
If you do drink around 14 units of alcohol a week or more, it is important to try to spread your drinking out evenly over 3 days or more.
A unit is a simple way of expressing the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink. A unit of alcohol varies between drinks and depends on the size and strength of the drink.
