There is no such thing as a safe level of drinking for people, health chiefs have warned in tough new alcohol guidelines.
The new advice says men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week – equivalent to six pints of lager or seven glasses of wine.
It has now been said that any amount of alcohol can increase cancer.
Pregnant women are now being told they should no longer consume any alcohol.
The new guidance – which is the most significant change in advice since 1995 – also suggests people have several alcohol-free days each week.
However, they should not “save up” their 14 units for one night out.
A breakdown of the new guidelines:
What does 14 units of alcohol look like?
- 6 pints of beer (4% strength)
- 7 glasses of wine (12%)
- 14 shots of spirit (40%)
Regular drinking
- Men and women who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units per week and spread this out over three days or more.
- Health chiefs have made clear that there is no “safe” drinking level.
- The risk of developing a range of illnesses – including cancer – increases with any amount you drink on a regular basis.
- People should have several booze-free days a week
Nick Tegerdine, an independent alcohol addiction expert in Nottingham, believes that the guidelines won’t work and will have very little effect on people’s drinking patterns.
He said: “Some people will appreciate being given information but actually the information is not really needed. The information simply is the more you drink the greater the risk.
“The reason new guidelines have been published now is because they’ve consistently got them wrong, this has been going on since the early 80’s and nothing has changed.
“The one thing that is consistent is the evidence that the more you drink the greater the risk.”
Video: Nick explains exactly how many units are in your average drink.
Old advice suggested that men should drink no more than three to four units a day, and women two to three.
But the new guidance brings limits for men in line with those for women for the first time.
