The tougher guidelines, released this week, advise men and women to drink no more than 14 alcohol units a week, which equates to six pints of beer, seven glasses of wine, or about half a bottle of whisky.
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“The links between alcohol and cancer were not fully understood in the original guidelines, which came out in 1995”, said the U.K. Department of Health. The greatest benefit is seen when those women limit their intake to around 5 units a week, the equivalent of around 2 standard glasses of wine. People should also not “save up” their units and drink them all in one or two goes, according to the guidelines. Previously, men had been allowed up to 21 units a week.
Now, it is recommended that you have several alcohol free days a week.
Prof Frank Murray, chairman of Alcohol Health Alliance Ireland, welcomed the updated United Kingdom guidelines, which take account of new research on the health risks of alcohol consumption.
Alcohol guidelines for men have been brought down to the same level as for women – 14 units of alcohol each week, or six pints of beer – which could lower the risk of illnesses such as liver disease and cancer.
Alan Knobel, substance misuse strategy co-ordinator for public health, at Portsmouth City Council, said: ‘We want people to lead balanced, healthy lifestyles and are realistic in acknowledging that this is likely to include drinking alcohol.
The guidelines are influenced by new evidence that drinking alcohol can cause various cancers, as well as liver disease. Approximately 1 in 20 of all new cancers in the United Kingdom stem from alcohol consumption.
The guidance also clarified advice to pregnant women, recommending they avoid alcohol “as a precaution”.
“Any amount of drinking is associated with increased risk of a number of diseases; the often-reported protective effects will not apply to the majority of people and where they do apply, they refer to very low levels of drinking”, said Matt Field, from the University of Liverpool. People who binge drink on one or two days of the week increase their risk of death from long term illnesses and accidents and injuries.
One major difference is the change from daily to weekly recommended units – which they say is to make the guidelines easier to follow for the majority of the population who do not drink regularly.
“Heaving drinking” is defined as eight drinks or more a week for women and fifteen or more for men. It warns that the risk of cancers of the mouth, throat and breast increases with any amount drunk on a regular basis.
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Drink more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water.
