Tough new guidelines on alcohol consumption are launched across the UK today.
Four chief medical officers have signed up to the guidance, which cuts the amount men are “allowed” to drink in a week by a third.
The guidance also says that pregnant women should avoid all alcohol – seeking to put an end to suggestions that small amounts may do no harm.
And it rejects suggestions that a little alcohol may benefit the heart, stating there is “no justification” for drinking alcohol for the sake of health.
The guidance has been issued for consultation and means that men and women are both being advised to restrict themselves to 14 units of alcohol a week – and to have alcohol free days as well as avoiding bingeing at weekends. This is equivalent to a pint of beer or a glass of wine a day.
English chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said: “Drinking any level of alcohol regularly carries a health risk for anyone, but if men and women limit their intake to no more than 14 units a week it keeps the risk of illness like cancer and liver disease low.
“I want pregnant women to be very clear that they should avoid alcohol as a precaution. Although the risk of harm to the baby is low if they have drunk small amounts of alcohol before becoming aware of the pregnancy, there is no ‘safe’ level of alcohol to drink when you are pregnant.
“What we are aiming to do with these guidelines is give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking and the level of risk they are prepared to take.”
Guidance developer Professor Mark Petticrew, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “This new guidance has been based on a wide range of new evidence from this country and overseas. 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.”
The guidance was widely welcomed by medical organisations.
Professor Derek Ball, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: “The evidence is clear that excessive consumption of alcohol can cause serious health problems and this has wide-ranging implications for individuals, their families and communities, and the health and social services. “
Professor Alan Cameron, vice-president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “Consistent with our advice, abstinence from alcohol is the safest option, in particular for women trying to conceive or during the first three months of pregnancy.
“It is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to be open and honest with women, explaining both the potential risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy and the limitations of the science, and supporting them in coming to a decision for themselves.
“We all deal with uncertainty in our lives on a daily basis; pregnant women are no less capable of doing so.”
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