United Kingdom health departments set lower limits for safe drinking

Now, after reviewing the scientific evidence of the last 20 years, the new advice is that both men and women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week.

The four UK Chief Medical Officers have taken account of new evidence on the increased risk of developing cancer from drinking, as well as the negative health effects of binge-drinking.

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.

The new guidelines bring men’s upper limit down to 14 units per week, in response to the latest research, which suggests that the overall health risks for men and women are the same.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, said: “This is a real step in the right direction on alcohol in the UK”.

“Many people still don’t know that alcohol increases the risk of seven types of cancer, including breast, mouth and bowel cancers”.

Asked if Mr Cameron drank less than 14 units a week, the spokesman replied: “I haven’t discussed the Prime Minister’s nutritional intake with him”.

The Centre for Pharmacy Postgraduate Education has published an updated alcohol misuse distance learning programme to coincide with the new guidelines.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “We have to be very careful to ensure that the public know the risks of drink, so they can take their choice”.

Scientists admit there is scant evidence regarding drinking at low levels in pregnancy, but they say it is perfectly plausible it can harm the foetus. They say that if people drink, it should be moderately over three or more days and that some days should be alcohol-free.

While small amounts of alcohol consumed before becoming aware of the pregnancy present a low risk to the baby, Dame Sally insists that there is no “safe” level of alcohol for pregnant women to drink. Henry Ashworth, chief executive of the Portman Group said: “It also means that United Kingdom men are now being advised to drink significantly less than their European counterparts”.

But now it turns out that even what most of us thought was healthy isn’t: the idea that drinking a glass of red wine a day is good for you, for example, is actually rubbish.

There has been a major change regarding the advice for pregnant women.

However, it is important to remember that while the risk is greater that figure is small with low and moderate levels of consumption, which has been set at 14 or less units per week.