Booze control…
After-work trips to the pub and the sudden
increase in the booze stock at home, all go towards potentially pushing people
towards “overdoing it”. And from there, it may not be too many steps before
they have a problem.
Around 27 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women
drink more than the recommended number of units a week.
The binge-drinking culture turns many cities into
no-go areas on a Friday and Saturday night. Alcohol abuse places huge demands
on the emergency and health services.
Enter Kevin Laye, a Harley Street therapist who
has just published his new book, Positive Drinking, a guide to controlling
alcohol — before it controls you!
“The book isn’t aimed directly at people who have
a drink problem — though they could certainly benefit from the techniques I
outline,” he told The Weekly News. They wrote “It’s a book for those who don’t
have problems with alcohol — yet!”
“I like a drink myself, so I don’t take a moral
standpoint. The book is not one of
judgement.
I’m certainly not telling people to stop drinking.
I’m giving them advice on how to control it.
For instance, there are some very simple but
specific codes that you can teach yourself which will enable you to stop
drinking after, say, two pints of beer or two glasses of wine.
It can be as easy as tapping a part of your body
with your fingers in a certain way before you go out for the evening. Once
you’ve done this and set yourself a limit, it becomes almost impossible for you
to exceed that limit. I know it sounds weird, but it works”
The reason many people give for drinking is that
it helps to relieve stress. You only have
to walk around a city centre on a Friday evening to see people spilling from pubs onto the pavement because it’s the end of the week and they’re letting off steam.
to walk around a city centre on a Friday evening to see people spilling from pubs onto the pavement because it’s the end of the week and they’re letting off steam.
“That amounts to self-medicating, and isn’t a good
reason to be drinking. There are far better ways to relieve stress if you’ve
had a row with your boss or your partner. If you
must have a drink at the end of a long, hard week, then you’re no longer in
control and alcohol is controlling you. Alcohol
should be for relaxing with friends but, of course, the influence of others can
also cause people to drink more than they actually want to.
Set your limit
“Peer pressure, when it comes to drinking, is
dangerous and nothing short of intimidation. It could even be classed as
bullying.” Kevin, who before he became a therapist had
a military background with Special Forces, was a stuntman in California and is
a former European Karate Champion, has some tips on how to keep safe if you’re
going to indulge this festive season.
“First of all, set your limit,” he said. “Then, if
you’re going out on the town, make sure you have a plan and stick to it. That might involve knowing exactly how
you’re going to get home, not staggering out of a pub and into a massive queue
for a taxi, which is where much of the trouble can start. Before you go out, make sure you have some
food inside you. And have water between your alcoholic drinks. This will keep
you hydrated and slow down the absorption process.”
Positive Drinking, by Kevin Laye, is published by
Hay House, price £7.99. For more information on Kevin’s work, go to the website
www.kevinlaye.co.uk
