The theme of this year's campaign, organised by the charity Alcohol Change, was 'Alcohol and Cost', with people encouraged to consider the many implications associated with alcohol, like health problems, financial worries and family difficulties.
Alcohol Awareness Week provided a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the support available, with Recovery Near You, the City of Wolverhampton Council and key partner organisations holding events across the city, including the provision of free liver health checks and hepatitis C testing alongside general health and wellbeing advice.
Over 400 people had a liver scan at the Love Your Liver Bus throughout the week, around 2,500 people were given advice and support to think differently about their alcohol use while nearly 500 people stopped to find out more about the campaign and receive help to assess their own drinking risk levels using validated tools.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing, said: "Alcohol Awareness Week was a fantastic partnership event involving council teams from Public Health, our libraries, Events and WV Active working closely with colleagues from Recovery Near You, P3, SUIT, Enjoy Wolverhampton, West Midlands Police, the Violet Project, Wolves Foundation and of course Hit the Dhol, who entertained the crowds at a special family event in Queen Square.
"We were able to engage with thousands of local people, providing them with information, help and support to help them or their family members deal with any issues they may be experiencing with alcohol."
If you are concerned about your drinking, or that of a family member or friend, please contact Wolverhampton's substance misuse service, Recovery Near You. Visit the website at Recovery Near You or call 0300 200 2400 for adults and 0300 123 3360 for young people. Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Councillor Jaspal added: "Many people like to drink alcohol from time to time, but it is important that we do so in moderation because the harm caused by alcohol affects millions of people every year, in the form of health problems, financial worries, relationship breakdown and family difficulties.
"It brings with it huge social costs too with the significant pressure it places on the NHS, the emergency services, police, and workplaces.
"The good news is that cost of alcohol to individuals, our relationships, our families, and our stretched vital public services doesn’t have to be so high. We can all take steps to make a change, saving money and saving lives."
To find out more about Alcohol Awareness Week, please visit Alcohol Change.
