Most people in society, at some point in their lives, drink alcohol: and generally, the majority of us will drink sociably and sensibly without experiencing problems as a result. After all, drinking is usually associated with relaxing, socialising and having fun and celebrating events etc. However, drinking alcohol can become a problem, particularly your health, if you regularly drink above the recommended sensible limits.
Exactly how much is ‘too much’ on a night out – or in? And how do you know if the amount you drink is affecting your health?
We are often asked the questions: 
“How much is too much?”
and “What are the
sensible limits for drinking?”
If you want to enjoy a drink and stay safe your best bet is to stick to the recommended guidelines.
The current definitive guidelines are:
NHS advice on drinking recommends that men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units of alcohol a day and women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day. Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. If they do choose to drink, to minimise the risk to the baby, they should not drink more than 1-2 units once or twice a week and should not get drunk.
Many people are already aware of the sensible drinking limits, yet it is estimated that 0ver 40% of men and over 34% of women regularly drink in excess of the recommended guidelines and that 1.1 million people in England are dependent on alcohol.
“Research shows that eight out of 10 people
don’t know the correct amount of units that
are recommended in Government guidelines”.
The effects of alcohol on your health will depend on how much you drink. The more you drink, the greater the health risks. In terms of risks, drinkers can be divided into three categories:
- Lower-risk drinkers
- Increasing-risk drinkers
- Higher-risk drinkers
Lower-risk drinking means that you have a low risk of causing yourself future harm. However, drinking consistently within these limits is called ‘lower-risk’, rather than ‘safe’, because drinking alcohol is never completely safe. NHS recommendations for lower risk drinking state that men should not exceed 3-4 units a day on a regular basis and women should not exceed 2-3 units a day on a regular basis.
Increasing-risk drinking. Drinking at this level increases the risk of damaging your health. Alcohol affects all parts and systems of the body, and it can play a role in numerous medical conditions. Increasing-risk drinking is drinking more than 3-4 units a day on a regular basis if you’re a man and drinking more than 2-3 units a day on a regular basis if you’re a woman. If you’re drinking at around these levels, your risk of developing a serious illness is higher compared to non-drinkers.
Higher-risk drinking. If you’re in this group, you’re at an even higher risk of damaging your health compared to increasing risk drinkers. Higher risk drinking is regularly drinking more than 8 units a day, or more than 50 units a week if you’re a man and regularly drinking more than 6 units a day, or more than 35 units a week if you’re a woman. Again, alcohol affects the whole body, and it can play a role in numerous medical conditions. You’re at a much higher risk of developing alcohol-related health problems. Your body has probably suffered some damage already, even if you’re not yet aware of it.
If you are concerned in any way about your drinking or need any information about limits or units then contact us immediately.
