Overview
- Regional coverage on Wednesday reinforced NHS-backed advice that drinking alcohol close to bedtime fragments sleep and increases wake after sleep onset, leaving people less refreshed.
- Experts explain alcohol can make you fall asleep faster but later disturbs brain rhythms and deep restorative sleep, and dehydration from alcohol can cause restless or broken sleep.
- Specialists recommend finishing alcoholic drinks about four hours before bedtime so the body can digest and metabolise alcohol before sleep.
- Caffeine and nicotine also disrupt sleep: a cited study found caffeine has an average five-hour half-life and experts advise cutting caffeine 8–12 hours before bed, while nicotine interferes with falling and staying asleep.
- The coverage stresses following NHS sleep‑hygiene steps and says people whose insomnia lasts more than a month despite lifestyle changes should book an appointment with their GP.