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New research shows that alcohol related deaths have tripled since 1984. Find out if you're drinking too much
If alcohol consumption continues to rise in line with trends over the last 15 years, in the next decade enough people to fill Wembley Stadium will die due to alcohol-related health problems, according to a new report.
The research, by Alcohol Concern (to mark the beginning of Alcohol Awareness Week), also shows that alcohol related deaths have tripled since 1984.
Unit guidelines
The Department of Health advises that men should not drink more than 3 - 4 units of alcohol per day, and women should drink no more than 2 - 3 units of alcohol per day. Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. If they do choose to drink, they should not drink more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk.
What is a unit of alcohol?
Counting units of alcohol can help us to keep track of the amount we're drinking. The list below shows the number of units of alcohol in common drinks:-
- A pint of ordinary strength lager (Carling, Fosters, Carlsberg) - 2 units
- A pint of strong lager (Heineken, Stella Artois, Kronenbourg 1664) - 3 units
- A pint of bitter (John Smith's, Boddingtons) - 2 units
- A pint of ordinary strength cider (Dry Blackthorn, Strongbow) - 2.5 units
- A 125ml glass of red or white wine - around 1.5 unit
- A 250ml glass of wine - around 3 units
- A pub measure of spirits - 1 unit
- An alcopop (eg Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer) - approx. 1.5 units
Remember that lagers and ciders sold in bottles are usually stronger than those sold on draught. The labels of most bottled drinks should tell you how many units of alcohol are in the bottle.
What happens when you drink
1. Alcohol gets into the bloodstream within a few minutes of drinking and is carried to all parts of the body. The effects can take hours to wear off.
2. If a person is smaller or lighter, the alcohol will be concentrated into a smaller body volume. So alcohol will affect a person who isn't fully grown more quickly.
3. It's a biological fact - drink for drink, alcohol will affect a woman more than a man. Women are generally smaller, their bodies contain less water and the metabolism is different.
4. Alcohol affects physical co-ordination, reaction times and decision making. People who are drunk are more likely to have an accident, get into arguments or take stupid risks. They may feel sick, have blackouts or lose consciousness.
For more information on support groups and medical risks, click on the links. You can even find out exactly how many units you consumed last night by using the Drink Aware website's calculator.
