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Alcohol: 2.5 million people bust weekly limit in a day | |
(35 minutes later) | |
About 2.5 million people in Britain - 9% of drinkers - consume more than the weekly recommended limit for alcohol in a single day, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show. | |
The data, from 2014, predates the guideline of 14 units of alcohol per week for men announced in January. | |
Campaigners on alcohol issues say the ONS figures give cause for concern. | |
The UK's chief medical officers say there is no safe level of regular drinking. | |
The ONS figures show 28.9 million people drink some alcohol in a typical week. | |
This figure is lower than a decade ago but has remained stable over the last few years. | This figure is lower than a decade ago but has remained stable over the last few years. |
Young people are less likely to have consumed alcohol in the last week than those who are older. | Young people are less likely to have consumed alcohol in the last week than those who are older. |
Wine (including champagne) is the most popular choice of alcohol. | |
Of the 2.5 million who bust the weekly alcohol guideline in a single day, the majority were men. The most common age group was 25-44 year olds, closely followed by 45-64 year olds. | |
The most popular beverage for those who had drunk more than 14 units on their heaviest drinking day was normal strength beer, stout, lager or cider. | |
Of all those who said they drank alcohol in the last week, the percentage who exceeded the weekly limit in a day was highest in Wales and Scotland. | Of all those who said they drank alcohol in the last week, the percentage who exceeded the weekly limit in a day was highest in Wales and Scotland. |
Jackie Ballard, chief executive of Alcohol Concern, said: "Alcohol continues to be the leading risk factor for deaths among both men and women aged 15-49 and is linked to over 60 medical conditions including cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. | |
"We need to raise awareness of the health harms. | "We need to raise awareness of the health harms. |
"When it comes to alcohol, there are no safe limits of consumption." | |
Sarah Toule, from the World Cancer Research Fund, said: "When it comes to cancer prevention, people should avoid alcohol as much as possible as any amount increases the risk of cancer. | |
"If they are going to drink, it's important not to binge-drink and have no more than seven drinks a week spread over at least three days." |