The recommended units for women have not changed and remain at 14. It added that the links between alcohol and cancer weren’t fully understood in the original guidelines, published in 1995.
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For example, more must be done to increase public understanding of alcohol units, she said, as only around one-in-four people knew one unit was “less than a small glass of wine” with around half of people wrongly thinking one glass of wine equalled one unit.
“Alcohol consumption has been falling for a decade”.
New alcohol guidelines have been launched in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.
Bad news too for those who imbibe a few glasses of red to keep their hearts healthy. But, when you delve into the evidence, then people will take it on board. There is also the risk that women underestimate how much they are actually drinking, thereby increasing the risks for their unborn child.
LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Britons should drink less because any alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer and other diseases, government health chiefs said in new guidelines that were immediately denounced by critics as “nanny state” scaremongering.
The new guidelines also warn people not to “save up” their weekly units for things such as heavy weekend drinking sessions spread over one or two days.
However, critics said the guidance was an over-reaction and figures showed alcohol consumption in Britain had been falling.
The guidance said pregnant women should avoid alcohol altogether as there is no evidence for a “safe” drinking level.
British health officials say drinking alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer.
This rises to 126 women for those who drink 14 units or less per week and 153 for those who drink 14 to 35 units a week.
“It also means that United Kingdom men are being advised to drink significantly less than their European counterparts”.
“Over 1,000 women die from breast cancer every year in Scotland and more than 4,600 are diagnosed with the disease”.
The risk of developing some alcohol-related cancers reduces over time when people stop drinking, but it can take many years to return to the levels found in people who have never drunk alcohol. While the absolute risks may be small, the general agreement is that there is no longer a “safe” drinking limit for alcohol.
“So should we feel ok about risks of this level?” This includes the risk of accident or injury.
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“The ALMR will be responding to the Government’s consultation to push for clear and concise, information that is practical, evidence-based and which we feel is robust and reliable”.
