The theme for this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week (7-13 July) is ‘Alcohol and work’.
Slough Borough Council’s alcohol prevention priorities are embedded within broader public health and community safety strategies, particularly the Slough Community Safety Partnership Plan 2025–2028 and the Serious Violence Strategy 2024–2027.
With longer hours, more stress, and the blurring of lines between work and home, there are so many ways alcohol and work are linked. The awareness week is a chance to think about the link between the work we do, and our risks of increased alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism.
725 people in Slough were in contact with drug and alcohol treatment services in the year to March 2024. This is an increase from 635 people the previous year, and of those in treatment, 54% were adults struggling with opiates, and the remainder included individuals with alcohol-only issues and other substances. These figures suggest a growing demand for support services in Slough, with alcohol use being a significant concern.
Alcohol misuse can have a profound effect on both physical and mental health. Raising awareness enables residents to make informed decisions and better understand the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption, including liver disease, hypertension, and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
As part of the week, we will be providing a variety of events to provide education and harm reduction advice to the entire community in regard to the relationship between alcohol and work to help people better understand it. We will be sharing some bitesize helpful tips and advice on changes we can all make to improve our health and wellbeing; we will also be focusing on dispelling myths about treatment pathways and options available for support in the borough through our service provider Turning Point.
You can find the schedule of events and whether you are looking for help and support yourself, or are concerned about a family member or friend, there is a choice of in person or online events.
There is also a communications toolkit available to download that employers can use to share information with their colleagues.
Alison Finlay, Operations Manager, Turning Point’s Slough service, said: “Turning Point have been providing support to residents in Slough for over ten years, and we have an outstanding team of sensitive and compassionate people waiting to support anyone who wants to learn more about the effects of alcohol, gain information about treatment options, or gain advice for a friend or relative. Browse through our website, come to our open sessions Thursday 6-8pm or give us a call. We will be here when you are ready.”
Councillor Ishrat Shah, lead member for public health, wellbeing, and equalities, said: “We know many people like to have a drink to relax after work or on the weekend. It’s always worth taking a step back and looking at how much you are drinking and if it is having an impact on your life, with poorer sleep, mood swings, or desire to drink more often.
“We hope this action week encourages people to take control and prioritise their wellbeing. Go along to any of the events for information, tips and advice and support.”