Safe drinking

Most people with alcohol related illness aren’t alcoholics; they regularly drink more than the recommended amount.

Regularly exceeding the recommended limits increases the risk of liver cirrhosis; cancer of the mouth, neck and throat; breast cancer; reduced fertility; high blood pressure; heart attack; fatigue & depression.

Guidelines

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:

  • men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
  • spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
  • if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week

Fourteen units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of low-strength wine.

For more information visit

Resource Description Contacts
NHS website Hints and tips to help you cut down, information on what a unit really is and apps to track your drinking. www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol
Alcoholics Anonymous Concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual alcoholics who turn to AA for help.

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

Helpline: 0845 769 7555

Harm Minimisation Service Recovery focused support service for anyone whose life is affected by their own or somebody else’s alcohol or drug abuse.

The Rectory Centre, Rectory Rd, Oxford, OX4 1BU

www.oasispartnership.org

 

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Page last reviewed: 21 June, 2021