How much is too much?
Government guidelines – ‘Sensible Drinking – The Report of an Inter-Departmental Working Group’ (1995) set out the following advice:
Men
Most men can drink up to three to four units of alcohol a day without significant risks to their health. For men aged 40 and over there is evidence that drinking one or two units a day, but no more, can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Women
Most women can drink up to two to three units of alcohol a day without significant risk to their health. Women who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant should avoid getting drunk and are advised to consume no more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week. After the menopause there is evidence that drinking one to two units a day, but no more, can protect against the risk of coronary heart disease.
What is a unit?
As a guide, one unit of alcohol is:-
- Half pint of ordinary strength alcohol
- One glass 125 ml of wine
- One single 25 ml measure of spirits
- One glass 125 ml sherry
