NEARLY half of all people in the North-East are at greater risk of cancers, heart attack and stroke because they drink too much alcohol, too often.

Shock research reveals two in five people across the region are drinking at or above the Government’s recommended limits on a daily or regular basis, which could be storing up future health problems.

The limits are two to three units a day – about two small glasses of wine – for a woman and three to four units – about two pints of regular strength beer or lager – for a man.

Colin Shevills, director of Balance, the North-East Alcohol Office, said: “We know the majority of people across the region understand that drinking alcohol is linked to health conditions such as liver and heart disease.

“However, they may not appreciate that most people who suffer from health problems because of their drinking are not alcoholics or binge drinkers, but those who drink every day, or almost every day, over a number of years.

“At the same time, rates of death from alcoholrelated liver disease are increasing and alcohol specific hospital admissions are higher than the national average.”

Today, Balance launches a campaign, called Drinking Causes Damage You Can’t See, to raise public awareness of these recommended limits.

It will also highlight the wide range of conditions linked to drinking at or above these limits on a daily or almostdaily basis, which include high blood pressure, stroke and cancer of the mouth, throat and breast.

Scientific evidence reveals: 􀁥 men who regularly drink more than two pints of strong lager a day could be four times more likely to have high blood pressure; 􀁥 women who regularly drink two large glasses of wine or more a day could be three times more likely to suffer a stroke; 􀁥 men and women exceeding the limits could be up to five times more likely to develop cancers of the mouth and throat.

Alarmingly, not only does research reveal low levels of awareness of the links between alcohol consumption and cancer and stroke, it reveals a third of North- Easterners believe drinking doesn’t increase the risk of cancer and one in five say it doesn’t increase the risk of stroke.

The campaign, which runs until February 28, will encourage North-East people to Half of us risk cancer, stroke or heart attack due to alcohol call 0191-261-3803 or visit balancenortheast.co.uk/harm to find out more, download a drinks diary and receive an information booklet.

Balance teams will be visiting towns and cities across the region, including Durham, Darlington and Stockton, during February to provide advice and hand out information.