Guidelines

Women: the guideline maximum levels for safe drinking are up to 2 to 3 units (half to one pint approx) per day with drink-free days during the week.

Men: 3 to 4 units (one to two pints approx) per day with drink-free days during the week.

The weekly guidelines are 14 to 21 units per week for women and 21 to 28 units per week for men.

The guideline levels are only intended for fully grown adults (full size livers and brains etc). There are no defined safe levels for adolescents, due to the huge variability of sizes and growth rates.

One unit of alcohol is 10ml (1cl) by volume, or 8g by weight, of pure alcohol.

For example, one unit of alcohol is about equal to:

• half a pint of ordinary strength beer, lager or cider (3-4% alcohol by volume) or
• a small pub measure (25ml) of spirits (40% alcohol by volume) or
• a standard pub measure (50ml) of fortified wine such as sherry or port (20% alcohol by volume)

There are one and a half units of alcohol in:

• a small glass (125ml) of ordinary strength wine (12% alcohol by volume) or
• a standard pub measure (35ml) of spirits (40% alcohol by volume).

But remember, many wines and beers are stronger than the more traditional 'ordinary' strengths, and wine is often served in large glasses, as are some spirits.