Confusion Over Official Alcohol Guidelines

With half of the medical world wagging fingers about limiting alcohol intake and the other half advising that a little can be a good thing for us, it is easy to see why even those attempting to drink healthily and sensibly can be confused by the messages presented by the authorities.

The government generally recommends that men drink no more than 3-4 units a day and women no more than 2-3, and that you take 48 hours off if you’ve drunk more than that. Medical students, on the other hand, learn about the curve which argues that a bit of alcohol is actually good for you…so which is the case?

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The one upside of drinking alcohol is possible protection against heart diseases, but the risks include a significant increased risk of liver disease and even liver cancer. The downside actually very rapidly outweighs the upside, as Dr Peter Scarborough from Oxford University explains, with anyone drinking more than about a quarter of a glass of wine (or half a unit) in a day consuming more than the “opimum” amount.

"If you're drinking any more than that,” Dr Scarborough warns, ‘’Then you are not at the best level for reduced risk."

Conflicting information comes from other sources. Sir Ian Gilmore, former president of the Royal College of Physicians, says

"I think it's fair to say the jury's still out. There certainly isn't enough evidence to say people that don't drink should start drinking because of their health."

while Henry Ashworth from the Portman Group representing UK drinks producers somewhat predictably says most people drink within the limits and will be fine if they follow the government’s advice.

"Guidelines are hugely important because we want to have more informed consumers. It's really important they stay consistent because the last thing you want to be doing is chopping and changing so people get confused."

Even the two day “recovery” period in between drinking sessions is being called into question, with Dr Nick Sheron, a liver specialist from the University of Southampton, warning that this is nothing to do with letting your liver recover and is designed to alert people to signs of alcohol dependency.

"What is clear is that if you are dependent on alcohol then cutting it out two or three days a week is going to be very difficult, and actually it's a real warning sign that you are somewhere on the dependency scale."

While the government and health authorities debate over units and measures, health benefits versus risks, however, many people are unwittingly developing serious alcohol problems due to the lack of clarity in understanding units of alcohol as a safety measurement, and the conflicting messages from authorities versus drinks manufacturers and marketers.

Here the golden rule becomes the two day rest guideline – if you or someone you know is developing an alcohol addiction, attempting to cease all alcohol consumption for at least 48 hours is likely to present issues for the drinker. If you know someone who has trouble avoiding drink for even a few hours, let alone a few days, it may be time to seek help. Give TimeToStop a call now on 0808 256 3602 today for some advice, or complete our online self assessment , and you could help someone take control of their drinking and even save their life by visiting a expert London alcohol treatment center. 

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