BRIGG PEOPLE WARNED ABOUT DRINKING IN HOT WEATHER

Don’t let alcohol ruin your summer, is the message from North Lincolnshire Council to adults in Brigg.
Coun Rob Waltham (Brigg & Wolds), Cabinet Member for Health and Strategic Projects, said: “There are many risks involved in drinking alcohol, especially excessive amounts, in the sun so we want people to know the facts. If people remember the top tips: put on a high factor sun screen, do not drink excessively and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids it will ensure their safety and reduce the risk of them putting themselves or others in harm’s way.”

NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL'S WARNING...
As lots of people start to make plans for their summer the council’s public health team wants to raise awareness of drinking alcohol in hot weather - and the risks involved. 
Summer time tends to be the peak of many people’s social and outdoor activities with friends and family enjoying barbecues and trips to the beach; for most this will involve drinking alcohol. 
Excessive drinking in the sun can cause dehydration but can also lead to physical and mental impairment. Alcohol impairment can lead to tragic consequences on the road, water and great outdoors.
To ensure your safety follow these top tips on keeping safe while enjoying the sun and alcohol:
Pace yourself – try incorporating a glass of water in between alcoholic beverages. This will help keep you hydrated, will slow down the effects of alcohol impairment and will prevent you from feeling a little worse for wear the next morning. 
Be sun aware – everyone needs a little sunlight to ensure we get enough vitamin D to help keep healthy. However, too much sun and burning of the skin is not something to be taken lightly. A good skin care routine includes protecting your skin from too much sun by either covering up with clothing or shade and using a good sunscreen. 
Know when you have had enough alcohol – identifying when you’ve had enough to drink means you’re more likely to avoid getting yourself into dangerous situations. 
Get home safely – if you know you will be drinking alcohol try to plan your journey home before you go out. The safest option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive so have taxi numbers saved in your mobile phone or written down or a friend’s house you could stay at if you decide to have a drink. Giving yourself a few options is the best way of ensuring you don’t drink and drive. 
For more details on keeping yourself healthy over the summer, visit the health pages on the council’s website: www.northlincs.gov.uk/summerhealth. 

Alcohol – the facts
The safe drinking limit is two to three units per day for adult females and three to four units per day for adult males. 
The chief medical officer suggests as guidance that young people aged 15 and under should refrain from drinking alcohol and enjoy an alcohol free childhood. Those aged 16 and 17 years-old can if they wish have alcohol (two or three units) once a week, supervised by parents/carers. 
Alcohol enters the bloodstream much quicker if fizzy, warm and there’s no food in the stomach. This increases your risk factors including accidents, arguing and violence, and alcohol poisoning. 
Due to biological differences, females do not metabolise alcohol as effectively as males. A consequence of this is that women are at more risk of getting drunk much more quickly.
Alcohol is eliminated from the body at approximately one unit per hour from when you start drinking, though bear in mind that the more you drink, the longer it will take for your liver to break units of alcohol down in your body.