Alcohol Page
What are the recommended limits of alcohol drinking?
Men should drink no more than 21 units of alcohol per week (and no more than four units in any one day).
Women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week (and no more than three units in any one day).
Pregnant women.Recently the government has issued guidance advising pregnant woman to completely abstain from alcohol.
The more you drink above these limits, the greater the risk of developing serious problems such as liver disease.
What is a unit of alcohol?
The percentage alcohol by volume (%abv) of any drink equals the number of units in one litre of that drink. For example:
Strong beer at 6% abv has six units in one litre.
So, If you drink half a litre (500 ml) - just under a pint - then you will have had three units of alcohol.
Wine at 12% abv has 12 units in one litre. If you drink a quarter of a litre (250 ml) - two small glasses, then you have had three units.
Some people labour under the misconception that a glass of wine equals a unit of alcohol. It used to-when wine was weaker and wine glasses were smaller!
Isn't alcohol good for you?
For men over 40 and for women past the menopause, drinking a small amount of alcohol (1-2 units three or four times a week) may confer a slightly reduced risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Do you know how much you are drinking?
When asked "How much do you drink?" many people give a much lower figure than the true amount. It is not that people lie, but it is easy to underestimate your true alcohol intake. To give an honest answer to this question, try making a drinking diary for a couple of weeks or so. Jot down every drink that you have. Remember, it is a pub measure of spirits that equals one unit. A home measure is often a generous double.
If you are drinking more than the safe limits, you should aim to cut down your drinking.
What are the problems with drinking too much alcohol?
Health risks
About 1 in 4 men, and about 1 in 7 women, drink more than the safe levels. Many people who drink heavily are not 'addicted' to alcohol, and are not 'alcoholics'. To stop or reduce alcohol would not be a problem if there was the will to do so. However, for various reasons, many people have got into a habit of drinking regularly and heavily. But, drinking heavily is a serious health risk.
If you drink heavily you have an increased risk of developing:
Hepatitis (inflammation of the liver).
Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Up to 3 in 10 long-term heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis.
Stomach disorders, such as ulcers.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas, a severely painful condition).
Mental health problems including depression, anxiety, and various other problems.
Sexual difficulties such as impotence.
Muscle and heart muscle disease.
High blood pressure.
Damage to nervous tissue.
Accidents - drinking alcohol is associated with a much increased risk of accidents. In particular, injury and death from fire and car crashes. About 1 in 7 road deaths are caused by drinking alcohol.
Some cancers (mouth, gullet, liver, colon and breast).
Obesity (alcohol has many calories).
Damage to an unborn baby in pregnant women.
Alcohol dependence (addiction).
In the UK about 33,000 deaths a year are related to drinking alcohol, a quarter due to accidents.
