The rules also say that it's best not to "save up units" and drink them all in one go and to make sure you have alcohol-free days. The new recommendations appear to be moving away from this long-held belief. The review found that the benefits of alcohol for heart health only apply for women aged 55 and over - and even then it's in very small amounts, around five units a week.
The guidelines say: "There is no justification for recommending drinking on health grounds - nor for starting drinking for health reasons. It also says that evidence in support for drinking alcohol in small amounts to maintain good health was "weaker than it was at the time of ". But the new guidelines for pregnant women have now been updated in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be clear that no level of alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy. Previously it was recommended that for women who had opted to drink, consuming no more than one or two units of alcohol - equivalent to one or two small glasses of wine - would "minimise the risk to your baby".
The new guidance says that for women who do drink that amount the risk to their baby is likely to be low, but "nevertheless, we cannot rule out the risks altogether". The new recommendations are at pains to point out that these guidelines are not for "safe" drinking, but rather just at minimising risk of illness.
All alcohol consumption carries some risk, the guidance says. The guidelines mean the UK has become one of the more stringent countries in Europe when it comes to recommended limits on alcohol intake. The table below shows guidelines for 12 other European countries - for which the Department of Health had data.
The figures show alcohol units per week. Prof Matt Field, who is a lecturer in addiction at the University of Liverpool , said one of the most important changes with the recommendations is that there is no "safe" level of alcohol consumption.
So, any amount of alcohol consumption carries some risk," he said. This is not about telling people what to do. Instead, people have a right to accurate information about alcohol and its health risks so that they can make informed decisions about their drinking behaviour. On this page. The low risk drinking guidelines To keep health risks from alcohol low, the UK Chief Medical Officers' CMO low risk drinking guidelines advise it is safest for men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
What's a unit of alcohol? It's not as simple as one drink, one unit. Calculate your alcohol intake Many people don't have a realistic idea of how much they're drinking and whether it is within the low risk drinking guidelines. A good place to start is by finding out just how many units there are in your drinks. Want to speak to someone about alcohol? Further advice and information Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results.
What to expect when you stop drinking. Low alcohol drinks. The benefits of drinking less. Was this information helpful? Thanks for your feedback. Newsletter Tips to change your relationship with alcohol. If you think you might be drinking too much and would like to cut down or stop drinking, there is help available.
Start by talking to your doctor who can give you advice about:. Go to Drink Aware if you are concerned about how much someone else is drinking and see where to find support services. We offer support through our free advice line on Lines are open 8am-7pm, days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over local Age UKs. Back to top. Postcode Please enter a valid postcode Submit.
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