Al-Anon Family Groups continue to give hope and strength to the family and friends of problem drinkers, and we are delighted to support them throughout Alcohol Awareness Week 2025, which takes place from 7th- 13th July 2025. The theme for this years’ event is ‘Alcohol and work’.
Why alcohol and work?
With longer hours, more stress, the blurring of lines between work and home, and too many workplace cultures that place alcohol rather than people at the centre of things, there are so many ways that alcohol and work are linked. But how many of us have stopped to think about the link between the work we do and our risks from alcohol?
This is what will be explored for this year’s Alcohol Awareness Week. Al-Anon will be sharing helpful tips on the signs to watch out for, in ourselves and others, if we’re struggling with our drinking and some changes we can make to improve our health, productivity, and happiness.
They’ll also be looking at the benefits of creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplace cultures in all types of industries and sectors that are fully inclusive and work for us all.
It is estimated that for every alcoholic there are at least five other people affected by their disease. Al-Anon Family Groups can complement the work of professionals working with the families and friends of alcoholics.
Al-Anon is a members’ fellowship dedicated to helping anyone who has been affected by their relationship with an alcoholic. This relationship can be as close as a parent, child or sibling or as remote as a friend or work colleague.
Al-Anon meetings are free to attend and the only membership requirement is that the person feels they have been negatively affected by another’s alcoholism.
If the effects of someone’s drinking is affecting you then you can call the confidential helpline on 0800 0086 811, 10am to 10pm, 365 days of the year. Details of your local Al-Anon group can be found here.
If you would like to access support around any of the issues mentioned in this blog, or to share your own lived experience, give the Healthwatch Essex Information & Guidance Service a call on 0300 500 1895, email [email protected] or text/WhatsApp on 07712 395398.
Sharon Westfield de Cortez,
Information & Guidance Manager