Now the UK’s chief medical officers have cut the male guidelines to 14 units, the equivalent of a little over nine small glasses of wine, 14 single measures of spirits or seven pints of beer.
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For men and women, you are safest not to drink regularly more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level.
The guidelines encourage several alcohol-free days per week but insist that units should not be saved for one night out, while pregnant women are advised not to drink any alcohol at all.
The recommended limit, for men and women who drink regularly, is now no more than 14 units per week.
Scientists admit there is scant evidence regarding drinking at low levels in pregnancy, but they say it is perfectly plausible it can harm the foetus.
Men are now being told they should drink only 14 units of alcohol per week, the same as for women and down from the previous level of 21 units. 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, they say.
A statement from the Portman Group, which represents the industry, said: “What is surprising is that the United Kingdom is breaking with established worldwide precedent by recommending the same guidelines for men and women”. While most studies focus on the effects of alcohol consumed over weeks or months, the committee nonetheless suggests limiting levels of drunkenness on any one occasion.
Despite the fact that short-term health risks have wide variations, the Department of Health is consulting on whether there should be a guideline for the maximum number of units that can be drunk in one go or day.
January is traditionally a time when people in Britain consider taking a break from alcohol, but the latest guidelines from the UK’s chief medical officers suggest more long-term changes could be necessary. “Only by being aware can people make informed choices about how much alcohol they choose to drink”.
So today, iomtoday is opening the issue up for discussion in relation to your drinking habits, whether you think the island has any particular problem with alcohol use and if the new guidelines will alter your comsumption habits.
The review also found that the benefits of alcohol for heart health only apply for women aged 55 and over.
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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.
