Explore our new Alcohol Awareness toolkit

You will be invited to a welcome meeting - you just need to bring yourself along! You shouldn’t stop drinking suddenly as this can lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. It’s ok to have a drink but please do not turn up intoxicated. Alcohol detox is not always the first step. We encourage you to try groups and specialist sessions. Don’t feel discouraged if your journey is taking longer than you thought; everyone’s journey is different and our staff will support you every step of the way.

You can request a call from a worker to chat about what to expect on your first day. You can also bring a family member or friend along to your first appointment. Our staff are very friendly; they understand everyone’s personal situation and are well trained on how to support them. We also have Recovery Motivators with lived experience who can understand and support you. To reduce the anxiety of travelling to groups, we also provide online groups that you can attend at home.

Start by finding a quiet and safe place. They need to have their full attention on you. Pick the right time to talk. Make it clear that you want to talk to them about something important to you and your health. If you don’t feel like speaking or having a face-to-face conversation, try writing down your thoughts, having a text conversation or recording a voice note. Be aware that they might ask questions or become emotional. This is ok and completely normal. It is ok for you to be emotional as well, and to take a break from the conversation. Our staff will always help you to talk to your friends and family about your treatment. We also run group sessions for family and friends, so you could invite them along.

Drinking more at home or going out to drink more often. Regularly short of cash, or asking to borrow money. Deterioration in their self-care and personal hygiene. Not eating, weight loss, shaking. Noticeable mood changes or becoming aggressive when somebody tries to discuss their alcohol use. Smelling of alcohol. Forgetfulness, lethargy, slurred speech. Being dishonest or being secretive. Not turning up to work, missing appointments, withdrawal from social situations. Notice them being sick or retching on regular basis, particularly in the mornings when they first get up. Increased number of accidents or injuries i.e. slips trips or falls. Finding full, empty or partly consumed alcohol cans and bottles in unusual places.

The sooner your loved one gets the support they need, the better it will be for them and for the people who care about them. Pick the right time to speak to them about what you’ve noticed. Don’t ignore the situation or hope they will speak to you first, as it is likely they are one or more of the following: in denial about their drinking and less concerned than you; worried, but unsure about what to do; concerned about confiding in you because they are worried about your reaction and/or what will happen next. Never try to hide or take their alcohol away as it could lead to dangerous withdrawal symptoms. These could make them unwell and even be fatal.

Start by letting them know that you care about them and that you are worried that they have not been themselves lately. Ask how they are feeling and if there is anything you can do to help. Share with them that you have noticed they have been drinking more regularly than they used to and that you are concerned it's harming their health and wellbeing. Assure them you are not criticising them; you are concerned about them and want to understand what they are going through. Ask if there is anything that is troubling them which is causing them to drink more often.

Reassure them that they are extremely brave by admitting they have a problem and are willing to take steps to treat it. Reassure them that with the right help and support there is a way out. Tell them that struggles with alcohol use can happen to anyone and that it's important they speak to somebody to get to the reasons behind their drinking. Offer to support them as much as they need you to, like helping them to get in touch with the right services and supporting them to attend appointments if that’s what they would like. Reassure them they are doing the right thing and life will get better.

It’s important to remember that one size does not fit all. There are plenty of mutual aid groups to attend such as AA, SMART Recovery, or they may decide that one-to-one counselling is more suitable. Suggest they see their GP who can signpost to Change Grow Live or other specialist organisations. Never force them to go to groups; let it be their decision and offer your support regardless.

Know that you have done the right thing by talking to them and offering support. It is likely they will be feeling scared and can’t imagine how they would cope without alcohol, especially if they are physically dependent on it. If they try to minimise or reject your concerns, know that this is often normal behaviour. Don’t take their first response at face value and be prepared to revisit the conversation again in the future, when the time feels right.

"Is there something you would like to talk about? How can I help you?" "Is there anything that has triggered your drinking?" Don’t say, "just stop drinking and you’ll be okay." Focus on building their trust so they will be more likely to listen to suggestions. Be supportive – they may not want to quit entirely but at least they are open to the conversation.