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| Drinking limits guidance set to be changed after review | Drinking limits guidance set to be changed after review |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| New advice on how much people should limit their drinking is to be issued following the first review of official alcohol guidance in 20 years. | New advice on how much people should limit their drinking is to be issued following the first review of official alcohol guidance in 20 years. |
| Reports suggest the UK's chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, will recommend abstaining from alcohol for at least two days a week. | Reports suggest the UK's chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, will recommend abstaining from alcohol for at least two days a week. |
| The daily maximum intake for men could also be cut to the same as for women. | The daily maximum intake for men could also be cut to the same as for women. |
| Currently, women are advised to drink no more than 2-3 units a day and men no more than 3-4. | Currently, women are advised to drink no more than 2-3 units a day and men no more than 3-4. |
| According to newspaper reports, the review will stress there is no "safe" alcohol intake and even drinking small amounts could cause diseases such as cancer. | According to newspaper reports, the review will stress there is no "safe" alcohol intake and even drinking small amounts could cause diseases such as cancer. |
| Scottish guidelines already advise people to abstain for at least two days a week. | Scottish guidelines already advise people to abstain for at least two days a week. |
| 'Low risk' | 'Low risk' |
| Dame Sally's review was launched in 2013 after the Department of Health said it had heard "sufficient concerns" from experts to suggest a thorough examination of the evidence on alcohol and health risks was needed. | Dame Sally's review was launched in 2013 after the Department of Health said it had heard "sufficient concerns" from experts to suggest a thorough examination of the evidence on alcohol and health risks was needed. |
| Updated guidelines on drinking in pregnancy and for young people were published in 2007 and 2009 respectively, but the last review of the advice as a whole was done in 1995. | Updated guidelines on drinking in pregnancy and for young people were published in 2007 and 2009 respectively, but the last review of the advice as a whole was done in 1995. |
| The current guidance states that by sticking within recommended limits, there is "only a low risk of causing harm in most circumstances". | The current guidance states that by sticking within recommended limits, there is "only a low risk of causing harm in most circumstances". |
| The recommended daily maximum for women of 2-3 units equates to no more than a standard 175ml glass of wine. | The recommended daily maximum for women of 2-3 units equates to no more than a standard 175ml glass of wine. |
| Men are told not to consume more than 3-4, not much more than a pint of strong lager, beer or cider. | Men are told not to consume more than 3-4, not much more than a pint of strong lager, beer or cider. |
| Dr Sally Marlow, from King's College London, told the BBC a break from alcohol for several days had various positive effects. | |
| "Alcohol, when you metabolise it in your liver, turns into a poison... and while it's a poison, it's in your system and messing your system up physically. | |
| "But also psychologically. If you are drinking every day it becomes a habit and habits are really difficult to break." | |
| One unit of alcohol is about half a pint of bitter or 4.5% lager, or a single measure of spirits (25ml). | One unit of alcohol is about half a pint of bitter or 4.5% lager, or a single measure of spirits (25ml). |
| A 175ml glass of 12% wine is 2.1 units and a pint of strong beer (ABV 5.2%) is three units | A 175ml glass of 12% wine is 2.1 units and a pint of strong beer (ABV 5.2%) is three units |
| Dr Marlow said the new guidelines were likely to take into account the idea of an "acceptable risk". | |
| "We drive cars knowing that we might have an accident, so are we prepared to accept the same level of risk when we have a drink? | |
| "We accept that there is some risk associated with that, but the benefit in our own internal calculation is worth it." | |
| In 2012, a report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee recommended advising the public take at least two alcohol-free days a week. | In 2012, a report by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee recommended advising the public take at least two alcohol-free days a week. |
| Dame Sally lead the review in consultation with government officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and considered whether there could be merit in producing bespoke guidelines for certain groups, like older people, who may be particularly susceptible to alcohol harms. | Dame Sally lead the review in consultation with government officials in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and considered whether there could be merit in producing bespoke guidelines for certain groups, like older people, who may be particularly susceptible to alcohol harms. |
| Commenting on the reports, a Department of Health spokesman said: "The chief medical officer, with advice from a group of independent experts, has reviewed current drinking guidelines. | Commenting on the reports, a Department of Health spokesman said: "The chief medical officer, with advice from a group of independent experts, has reviewed current drinking guidelines. |
| "The proposals will be published in the New Year." | "The proposals will be published in the New Year." |