Both men and women should try to consume no more than 14 units of alcohol per week – a drop from the previous guidance of 21 units for men.
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NEW alcohol guidelines state men and women should drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week – the equivalent of seven pints of larger or seven glasses of wine.
Those drinking no more than 14 units in a week have a low chance of alcohol-related disease, she said.
Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, said that while regular consumption of any level of alcohol carries health risks for anyone, limiting alcohol intake to no more than 14 units per week can keep risks of illnesses low.
Scientists admit that there is scant evidence regarding drinking at low levels in pregnancy but they say it is perfectly plausible it can harm the foetus.
The review also found that the benefits of alcohol for heart health only apply for women aged 55 and over.
In releasing the change, health officials there warned that Britons should reduce their drinking and that any amount of alcohol could be harmful to health, including increasing risks of cancer.
In Spain, men can have up to 28 drinks per week, while women can have 17, and still remain within the guidelines. A report accompanying the new guidelines said the evidence supporting protective effects is now weaker than it was at the time of the 1995 advice.
The drinks industry’s self-regulatory body, The Portman Group, criticised the new advice.
It is now known that the risks from alcohol start from any level of regular drinking and rise with the amount being consumed. “Guidelines are important because they help people make informed choices about their own drinking so it’s vital that they are trusted and understood by consumers”.
Previously, Scotland was the only country in the United Kingdom to advise women that there is no safe amount of alcohol that can be drunk during pregnancy and that the best approach for expectant mothers is not to drink at all.
Drinking alcohol can increase women’s risk of mouth, throat and breast cancer.
Yesterday, the U-S issued new guidelines saying a drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men is OK.
An additional recommendation is not to “save up” the recommended maximum weekly intake for one or two days, but to spread it over three or more days. But the federal agency also mentioned that even that moderate level increases risks for certain cancers, violence, accidents and injuries.
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Among men, for cirrhosis of the liver, those who regularly drink two units a day have a 57% increased risk of dying from the disease compared with non-drinkers.
