Campaigns urge cut down on alcohol consumption

Two national charities have launched different campaigns urging people to cut down on their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Concern is urging drinkers to shun alcohol for January, with benefits which it says include saving money, losing weight and feeling healthier.

But the British Liver Trust said people should follow its recommendations throughout the year, including taking 2-3 days off alcohol every week.

Liver disease is now the fifth biggest cause of death in the UK.

The British Liver Trust said it was on the rise because British culture continues to embrace daily consumption of alcohol, fatty food choices and a lack of exercise.

It has launched its second Love Your Liver awareness campaign, to be led by a nationwide road show of "pop-up" liver health clinics.

The trust is also urging the government to make early liver screening available to everyone at risk - a move it said could save a million lives a year.

Early testing is critical because there are no early warning signs, the trust said.

Meanwhile, Alcohol Concern has launched its Dry January campaign, urging people to take a month off drinking alcohol.

The charity said it wanted to get people thinking and talking about their drinking, and it hoped these conversations would continue long after this month.

Government ministers are proposing a minimum price of 45p a unit for the sale of alcohol in England and Wales as part of a drive to tackle problem drinking.