"Thank you for coming in today. I understand you wanted to talk about your alcohol consumption. It takes courage to have this conversation, and it's a really positive first step."
"To help me give you the best advice, would it be okay if I asked you a few standard questions about your drinking habits? It's a confidential questionnaire called the AUDIT, and it helps us understand your level of risk."
"Thank you for being so open. Based on your answers, your score is [X], which suggests your drinking is at a level that is likely to be harming your health, even if you don't feel any ill effects right now."
"What are your thoughts on that? What's prompted you to think about making a change at this time?"
"It's also helpful to know what you're most concerned about, and what you'd ideally like to achieve—whether that's cutting down or stopping completely."
"There are two main routes we can explore. For some people, cutting down to a safer level—that's under 14 units a week, spread out over several days—is a realistic goal. We can discuss strategies like having drink-free days or switching to lower-strength options."
"However, if you are physically dependent on alcohol, stopping suddenly on your own can be dangerous. Your body gets used to the alcohol, and taking it away can cause serious withdrawal symptoms, including seizures. In this situation, the safest goal is to stop drinking completely with medical support."
"The most important message today is that you do not have to do this alone. The best way forward is with expert help. I can refer you directly to our local specialist alcohol service. They provide free, confidential one-to-one support and can create a tailored plan with you."
"Once you have stopped drinking, there are also effective medications we can prescribe. These aren't a cure, but they can support your recovery. For example, some medications work by reducing your cravings for alcohol, which makes it easier to stay abstinent."
"This is very important: if you are dependent and decide to stop drinking, you must be aware of the signs of severe withdrawal. If you experience severe shaking, heavy sweating, confusion, or see or hear things that are not there, you must seek urgent medical help by calling 999 or going to A&E, as this is a medical emergency."
"Let's make a plan together now. We can complete the referral to the support service and book a follow-up appointment here for one to two weeks' time to check in and see how you are."
"How does that sound as a starting point?"