7 drink weekly limit in new alcohol guidelines

Recommended weekly alcohol limit
Recommended weekly alcohol limit

New alcohol guidelines have been issued across the UK, tightening up the previous rules around what is regarded as "safe" drinking levels.

The advice states that it’s safest not to regularly drink more than 14 units per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level.



If you wish to cut down the amount you're drinking, a good way to help achieve this is to have several drink-free days each week.

There is also advice on limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any occasion, such as drinking slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water and to avoid risky places and activities, making sure you have people you know around, and ensuring you can get home safely.

Binge drinking is, understandably, discouraged. Evidence shows that the "risks accelerate" from the point at which around five to seven units are drunk in one sitting. This includes the risk of accident or injury.




What has changed?


While the absolute risks may be small, the general agreement is that there is no longer a "safe" drinking limit for alcohol. But, taking account of the fact that many people do enjoy a drink, the UK's chief medical officers have said that the risk of disease can remain "low" if people drink 14 or less units per week.

Examples of the recommended weekly intake of 14 units of alcohol:

14 single measures of spirits (ABV 37.5%)

Seven pints of average-strength (4%) lager


Seven 175ml glasses of average-strength (12%) wine
