Drink Wise - Age Well NI

Addiction NI:

Run “Drink Wise, Age Well. This is a comprehensive alcohol awareness and support programme, which aims to develop sustainable solutions to the increasing levels of alcohol use among over‐50s. The UKwide,Big Lottery funded programme has six strategic partners from across the four jurisdictions.

Addiction NI is the lead partner in Northern Ireland. The programme is delivered in the Western Health Trust area in partnership with ARC Healthy Living Centre, Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum and Lakeland Community Care. Drink Wise, Age Well helps people make healthier choices about their drinking as they age.

For many people alcohol can have a positive impact on their lives including increased socialisation and relaxation. Many of us will enjoy alcohol as we get older and may never experience some of the negative effects.As a society we’re living longer, and many of us will have active and independent lives well into old age.

Research even suggests that after the age of 50, people begin to get progressively happier. However, this isn’t the case for everyone, for some people alcohol can start to have negative impacts as they get older. In the past ten years we have seen a significant increase in harms caused by alcohol to older people. Drink Wise, Age Well provides information on alcohol and getting older to allow you to make informed choices about your alcohol use. We provide information on alcohol unit guidelines, tips for cutting down and where and how to get help if you need it.

Drink Wise, Age Well also supports health and social care providers and community organisations to recognise and respond to risky drinking in people aged over 50.

For more information you can contact the Project Development Officer at Lakeland Community Care by telephone on 028 6638 6934.