

Men are now being told they should drink only 14 units of alcohol per week, the same as for women and down from the previous level of 21 units. One unit is roughly equivalent to a small glass of wine or a small shot of spirits.

The advice, the first update of its kind for 20 years, also says people should take several days off drinking every week. It warns that regularly drinking any amount of alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer.





The charity Alcohol Concern says that more than nine million people in England drink more than the recommended daily limit out of a population of around 54 million.It adds there were nearly 6,500 alcohol-related deaths in England in 2012.

There is fierce debate in Britain over whether to bring in a minimum price for alcohol, in a bid to get rid of the cheapest drinks and discourage alcohol abuse.Only the devolved government in Scotland has so far introduced legislation to impose this.