The risks of drinking too much

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Regularly drinking more than 14 units a week risks damaging your health.

14 units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or ten small glasses of low-strength wine.

New evidence around the health harms from regular drinking have emerged in recent years.

There is now a better understanding of the link between drinking and some illnesses, including a range of cancers.

The previously held position that some level of alcohol was good for the heart has been revised.

It is now thought that the evidence on a protective effect from moderate drinking is less strong than previously thought.

Low-risk drinking advice

To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:

men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week.

If you’re pregnant or think you could beco...