While moderate drinking can be beneficial to health, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a range of problems.

In the long term, as well as being a major cause of domestic and work-related problems, uncontrolled drinking can increase the risk of liver disease (cirrhosis), heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, high blood pressure and cancer.

There is some research to show that craving for alcohol can be related to low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). When the blood sugar level gets low, the body often craves something that will replenish sugar quickly in the blood stream.

For some individuals this may be something sweet such as chocolate, but in drinkers it tends to be alcohol. If you want to reduce your alcohol consumption, it is important for you to keep your blood sugar level stable by eating regular meals based on foods which give sustained releases of sugar such as fruits, vegetables, pulses, wholemeal bread, brown rice, meat and fish. In addition, take 200 mcg of chromium, two or three times a day as this nutrient is known to help with blood sugar stability.

You should also try a herb called Kudzu. This natural remedy has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds years in the treatment of alcohol cravings and alcoholism. Experiments show that Kudzu will reduce alcohol consumption in animals, and anecdotal reports suggest it is effective in humans too.

Dr John Briffa is one of Britain's foremost experts in alternative health care - check out his columns in www.Channelhealth.tv for more information.