Drinkaware and Andy’s Man Club

Drinkaware has partnered with Andy’s Man Club, a leading men’s mental health charity, to encourage men to open up about how their feeling and better understand their relationship with alcohol.

This new campaign aims to encourage men to talk about how they are feeling with friends, family or at an Andy’s Man Club meeting, reduce their drinking if they need to, and feel much better. 

Who are Andy’s Man Club?

Andy’s Man Club is a men’s suicide prevention charity that runs free, nationwide peer-support groups for men aged 18 and over. Their goal is simple but powerful: break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health through the power of conversation.

Since launching in 2016, Andy’s Man Club has grown from one group in Halifax to:

• Over 270 weekly support groups
• Supporting more than 5,800 men every week
• Powered by 2,500 volunteers, many of whom first joined as attendees

The sessions are non-clinical, confidential and completely pressure-free. Men can share as much or as little as they like or just listen.

The charity is named in memory of Andy Roberts, a young man who tragically died by suicide at the age of 23. His family and friends set up the club to create a space that could help others like him and save lives through talking.

Why this partnership?

Drinkaware’s research shows that men aged 45–65 are more likely than other men to drink frequently and heavily. Many of these men also use alcohol to cope with difficult emotions like stress, loneliness or depression.

This group of men are also:

• More likely to binge drink or drink alone
• Less likely to have been asked about their drinking
• More likely to experience poor mental health, but less likely to seek support

By partnering with Andy’s Man Club, Drinkaware aims to reach these men and encourage them to start talking more as it can be the first step toward drinking less and feeling much better.

“It’s okay to talk about drinking” is here to shine a light on the power of conversation through the real stories of men who’ve opened up about their mental health and reduced their drinking. In turn, we’re hoping this will encourage more men to open up and assess their own drinking habits to make more informed choices about alcohol.