A couple of weeks ago the UK government announced new guidelines on the safe consumption of alcohol. But what are the new guidelines, and how do they effect you?The old guidelines produced in 1995 recommended drinking less than 14 units per week if you are a women and 21 units for menThe recent proposed guidelines have been developed to inform the public about the known health risks and focus on patterns of drinking as well as the overall quantity. The recommendations aim to equip the population with the up to date knowledge needed for individuals to make health decisions for themselves.The three recommendations are on the topics:A weekly guideline on regular drinkingAdvice on single episodes of drinkingA guideline on pregnancy and drinkingWhy have the guidelines been proposedWith regards to cancer, the bottom line is that all types of alcohol should be avoided. Ethanol (alcohol in its purest form) is a carcinogen that can damage our DNA and has been linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer including mouth, throat, oesophageal, bowel, breast, prostate, pancreatic and liver.Overall, the amount of alcohol consumed over time, not the type of alcoholic drink, seems to be the most important factor in raising cancer risk. Ethanol is found in all alcoholic drinks whether they are beers, wines, or spirits. These drinks contain different percentages of ethanol, but in general a standard size drink of beer, wine, or spirits contains about the same amount of ethanol.Reports that red wine can lower your risk of heart disease are based on the fact that red wine contains flavanoids and antioxidant chemicals such as resveratrol which have anti-inflammatory properties. However, you can get a high level of antioxidants from a diet rich in fruit and vegetables without needing to consume alcoholic drinks.On regular drinkingThe guidance advises that:to keep health risks from drinking alcohol low you are safest not regularly drinking more than 14 units per week (men and women) - this is equivalent to a bottle and a half of wine or five pints of export-type lager over a weekif you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this evenly over three days or morethe risk of developing a range of illnesses (including, for example, cancers of the mouth, throat and breast) increases with any amount you drink on a regular basisOn single drinking episodesThe new proposed guidelines look at the potential risks of binge drinking sessions, which can include accidents resulting in injury, misjudging risky situations, and losing self-control.You can reduce these risks by:limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any occasionSip your drinks slowly and alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks.Avoid drinking on an empty stomach.Drink plenty of water before and after drinking alcohol to remain well hydrated.avoiding risky places and activities, making sure you have people you know around, and ensuring you can get home safelyDrinking and pregnancyThe guidelines recommend that:if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimumdrinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the riskThe original guidance can be found here: Department of Health. UK Chief Medical Officers' Alcohol Guidelines Review - Summary of the proposed new guidelines. January 2016For a useful tool to help you calculate how many units you drink each week click here for the World Cancer Research Fund's alcohol calculatorIf you have more questions about how this may apply to you please feel free to contact us.Love, the Eat and Think Team X
