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Alcohol Advice.

The information below is about alcohol units and how to calculate how much you are drinking. It is aimed to help you avoid further problems with alcohol in the future.

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Know Your Limits

How much is too much?

Recommended safer drinking limits…

Men: 3–4 units alcohol per day (maximum 21 units in a week).

Women: 2–3 units alcohol per day (maximum 14 units in a week). Avoid alcohol when trying for a baby or during pregnancy.

Know your units… how much do you drink in a typical week?

Alcopop bottle
(275 ml) 5%
1.4 units

1 single shot (25 ml) spirit 1 unit

Double measure spirit (50 ml) 2 units

1 small glass (125 ml)
12% wine 1.5 units

1 large glass (250 ml)
12% wine 3 units

1 pint of premium
strength 5.2%
lager
3 units

1 pint cider 3.4 units

A bottle of 12% wine 9 units

What are the health risks associated with alcohol?

Alcohol can affect every organ in the body, not just the liver.

Men who regularly drink more than 6 units (2 pints strong lager) every day:

are more than 3 times more likely to get mouth cancer
could be three times more likely to have a stroke

Women who regularly drink 2 large glasses of wine (6.5 units) every day:

are twice as likely to have high blood pressure
are 50% more likely to get breast cancer

Short term:

Falls, accidents and injuries from fights, sexual and physical assaults
Antisocial behaviour
Sexual problems and impotence
Fatal alcohol poisoning
Coma and choking on your vomit

Long term:

Addiction
Poor skin, thread veins, brittle hair and nails and weight gain
Relationship breakdown and debt
Liver disease
Many different cancers
Heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke
Poor sleep
Mental health problems—depression, anxiety, memory loss and dementia
Weakened immune system causing more frequent and serious infections

Around 9,000 people die from alcohol related causes each year in the UK.

Alcohol induced liver disease accounts for over half of all the liver disease in the UK.

Drinking and driving…

Poses a risk of serious injury and death to yourself and other road users. The body takes ONE hour to process ONE unit of alcohol and so you may still be over the limit the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

How would I know that my drinking is a problem?

Answer either yes or no to each of these questions. Over the past year:

1. Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?

2. Have people annoyed you by criticising your drinking?

3. Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?

4. Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?

If you answered yes to two or more of these questions, please seek help as you may be at an increased risk of problem drinking or alcoholism.

If you are physically dependent on alcohol, suddenly cutting down or stopping completely can cause withdrawal symptoms, some of which are potentially life threatening. A planned withdrawal or detoxification with the help of a healthcare professional can help you to stop safely.

Mixing drugs with alcohol carries greater risks. If your night out includes drug use go to www.talktofrank.com or consider calling Worcestershire drug link.

Where can I get expert information and treatment?

You can talk to your GP, practice nurse or hospital doctor or nurse.

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Drugs and alcohol misuse service—

‘Pathways to Recovery’ 0808 178 3295
Worcester 01905 721 020

Kidderminster 01562 823 211
Redditch 01527 61010

Drinkline: National Alcohol Helpline
0800 917 8282

Alcoholics Anonymous
0121 211 0111
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

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Alcohol Advice.

Know Your Limits

How much is too much?

Know your units… how much do you drink in a typical week?

What are the health risks associated with alcohol?

Short term:

Long term:

Drinking and driving…

How would I know that my drinking is a problem?

Where can I get expert information and treatment?

Share this...

Drugs and alcohol misuse service—

Were you prepared for the visit today?

Related Information

Loss of a loved one

Social Media

111

Part 1 – Scanning QRs

Burnout at work

Some tips to improve your mental wellbeing

Was this information useful?

How was your visit today?

Treatment Feedback - Tools for Hospitals

News & Blog

Part 2 – Delivering Information

Part 1 – Scanning QRs

Introduction Video

Burnout at work

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