Alcohol: UK imposes tough new guidelines

The Chief Medical Officer for England Sally Davies said drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone.

Before, pregnant women were told to abstain from alcohol but if they did drink, they were told not to consume more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week.

Many people drink alcohol, and most do so in ways that do not significantly put them at risk of alcohol related harm, but new evidence has emerged on the potential risks and benefits from alcohol consumption.

People should have several booze-free days a week and not “save up” their 14 units for a binge.

The CDC guidelines for Americans is still a bit more lenient – moderate drinking equals about two drinks per day for men, and one per day for women.

The new guidance came with publication of findings that highlight the association between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk.

Previously, the recommended weekly unit consumption for men was 21 units and for women, it was 14.

“Any amount of drinking is associated with increased risk of a number of diseases; the often-reported protective effects will not apply to the majority of people and where they do apply, they refer to very low levels of drinking”.

Breast Cancer Now’s policy and campaigns manager for Scotland, Lawrence Cowan, said: “We welcome the Chief Medical Officers’ recommendations”. When seen for pregnant women, the guidelines state that no level of drinking is safe during pregnancy.

How can I reduce the risks when drinking on a single occasion according to the new guidelines? People who have more than about four drinks daily run up to triple the risk of contracting cancers of the head and neck than non-drinkers. Pregnant women are warned that it’s not safe to drink any alcohol at all. People are also advised to consume food while drinking and to drink water alternately with alcohol.

The report found that any heart health benefits from alcohol are only relevant to women aged 55 or older.

Drinking alcohol can increase women’s risk of mouth, throat and breast cancer. “We have reviewed all the evidence thoroughly and our guidance is firmly based on the science, but we also considered what is likely to be acceptable as a low risk level of drinking and the need to have a clear message”.

Prof Linda Bauld, of Cancer Research UK, welcomed the guidelines, saying: “There is no “safe” level of drinking when it comes to cancer”.