Sensible drinking

No amount of alcohol is completely safe. The NHS-recommended lower risk limits are the levels of regular drinking that pose only a low risk of developing future health problems. Drinking above these levels on a regular basis is associated with an increasing risk of diseases, and these risks increase the more you drink.

The NHS recommends:

• Men should not exceed three to four units per day on a regular basis
• Women should not exceed two to three units per day on a regular basis

The effects of alcohol are different for each person, and between men and women. The amount you drink, how often you drink and how long you’ve been drinking all make a difference. And most of the harm caused can’t be seen or felt until it’s too late.

Regularly drinking above the recommended limits over a long period can lead to:

• Cancer of the mouth, throat cancer, cancer of the oesophagus or larynx, and breast cancer in women
• Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
• Liver damage, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer
• Depression, memory loss, brain damage or dementia
• Stomach damage
• Potentially fatal alcohol poisoning

For more information

Please visit www.drinking.nhs.uk