Hints & Tips

What is a unit of alcohol?

The Department of Health advises that men should not drink more than 3 to 4 units of alcohol per day, and women should drink no more than 2 to 3 units of alcohol per day, so what exactly is a unit of alcohol?

One unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10ml of pure alcohol. This means that as a rough guide when drinking:

• 1 x 125ml glass of wine/champagne at 12% ABV* = 1.5 units
• 1 x 25ml measure of spirits at 40% ABV* = 1 unit
• 1 x pint of standard beer at 3.8% ABV* = 2 units

*ABV = Alcohol by Volume

Facts about alcohol

• Drinking more than these recommended amounts on a regular basis carries serious progressive health risks
• On average, the body can break down alcohol at a rate of one unit per hour (depending on your weight, sex, age, metabolism, stress levels, amount of food eaten, medication taken and type of alcohol consumed)
• If you get drunk avoid alcohol for 48 hours afterwards to give your body time to recover

The stomach

• Eating before or with drinking can slow down the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood
• Milk doesn't 'coat the stomach' as some people believe
• Regular drinking binges can inflame the stomach's lining and lead to other health problems
• Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to a decrease in stomach acid production, reducing its ability to kill harmful bacteria

The liver

• As the organ that removes all toxins from the blood, the liver is vital for health. One in three heavy drinkers - people who regularly drink more than six units a day - will develop inflamed livers
• After just a few weeks of regular heavy drinking, fatty deposits can quickly build up leading to liver inflammation and ultimately liver disease
• The liver has very few nerve cells - you'll only know when something's wrong when it gets so inflamed that your abdomen hurts all over
• People can die from liver disease caused by excessive drinking

The brain

• Alcohol suppresses the speed at which the brain processes information, so after a few drinks it is likely to impair your physical coordination, reaction times and decision making
• Too much alcohol can have a dramatic negative effect on the part of the brain that controls and influences our automatic bodily functions, such as breathing, heart rate and so on
• If alcohol is consumed rapidly, the alcohol-destroying enzyme in your body may not be able to keep up. Alcohol can become 'backed up' in your bloodstream having increasingly negative effects and even coma or death

The impact of underage drinking

Aside from health-related effects, drinking alcohol often takes away your inhibitions. According to the Government's information service, www.direct.gov.uk

• 10,000 young people go to hospital every year because they have been drinking
• More than one in ten 15 and 16-year-olds are involved in an accident caused by drinking
• One in five 15-year-old girls say they have had sex after drinking alcohol that they later regretted
• You're more likely to have unprotected sex if you've been drinking
• Young women who drink alcohol are twice as likely to have an unplanned pregnancy than those who don't
• You're more likely to get a criminal record or get into trouble with the police if you drink too much on a regular basis

Benefits of moderate drinking

• In small amounts, alcohol can have two beneficial effects: it increases levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, protecting the heart and arteries, and decreases levels of blood-clotting agents (fibrinogens)
• BUT alcohol's benefits can be reversed if daily consumption is excessive leading to health risks such as high blood pressure and liver damage
• Healthy drinking patterns are also important - those who drink large amounts in one session tend to have more alcohol-related problems than those who drink light or moderate amounts

When not to drink alcohol

Do not drink if a doctor or other health professional advises you to cut down, or to stop drinking, or, for example:

• Before or when operating machinery and equipment
• Using electrical equipment
• Taking part in active sport
• You are trying to become pregnant
• You are pregnant

The Department of Health website features a full list of situations when you are advised not to drink.

Further details on the information above can be found at:

UK Government central information website www.direct.gov.uk
Department of Healthwww.dh.gov.uk
Institute of Alcohol Studieswww.ias.org.uk
British Medical Associationwww.bma.org.uk
Drink Awarewww.drinkaware.co.uk