Know Your Colour
- Adult women should not regularly drink more than 2-3 units a day
- Adult men should not regularly drink more than 3-4 units a day
- Pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol. If they do choose to drink, to protect the baby, they should not drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk.
- Men who drink regularly over 3 - 4 units a day and women who regularly drink over 2 - 3 units a day.
- Men who drink regularly over 8 units a day and women who regularly drink over 6 units a day.
** Use the NHS Choices unit calculator - find out your alcohol units limit **
Most people who suffer from health problems because of their drinking are not alcoholics, but rather are those who regularly drink more than the recommended amounts.
Many suffer few immediate consequences of their drinking, but cumulatively it takes its toll. 6,000 deaths from coronary heart disease in men each year are directly due to alcohol; and 400 of the 1,700 deaths from mouth cancer per year are linked to heavy drinking - that's nearly one in four!
In England and Wales, alcohol misuse leads to some 33,000 hospital admissions each year for alcohol-related liver disease. Around 90% of adults regularly drink alcohol, with around 10 million drinking over the recommended amount.
Drinking more than the recommended number of units over a long period can lead to complications like:
- Certain types of cancer, especially breast cancer
- Memory loss, brain damage or even dementia
- Increased risk of heart disease and stroke
- Liver disease, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer
- Stomach damage
- Potentially fatal alcohol poisoning
If you are concerned about your drinking please speak to your GP.
If you are driving the next day don't forget that it takes around one hour for your body to expel one unit of alcohol.
|
Drink |
Units |
Calories |
Food equivalent |
|
White wine (175ml) |
2.1 |
130 |
A bag of crisps |
|
Red wine (175ml) |
2.1 |
120 |
A slice of cheese & tomato pizza |
|
Lager or beer (pint) |
2.3 |
170 |
A small sausage roll |
|
Cider (pint) |
3.4 |
200 |
A mince pie |
|
Tequila (25ml) |
1.0 |
160 |
A doughnut |
|
Alcopop (275ml) |
1.4 |
200 |
A chicken drumstick |
How's your diet?
Having a kebab or a bag of chips after a few drinks is one thing, but you might be surprised at how many calories you get through just by drinking. For example, a small glass of wine has the same calories as a packet of crisps. A or example, a small glass of wine has the same calories as a packet of crisps. A pint of cider contains the same calories as a large mince pie - something to think about at your next Christmas party!
Staying within the limits
|
Beer, Ale and Stout |
Bottle (330ml) |
Can (440ml) |
Pint |
|
Ordinary strength (3.5 - 4%) (John Smith's, Boddingtons, Guinness) |
1.3 units |
1.8 units |
2.3 units |
|
Premium strength (5%) |
1.6 units |
2.2 units |
2.8 units |
|
Strong (6%+) |
2 units + |
2.6 units + |
3.4 units + |
|
Cider |
Bottle (330ml) |
Can (440ml) |
Pint |
Litre |
|
Ordinary strength (6%) (Dry Blackthorn, Strongbow) |
2 units |
2.6 units |
3.4 units |
6 units |
|
Strong (9% +) |
3 units + |
4 units + |
5 units + |
9 units + |
|
Lager |
Bottle (330ml) |
Can (440ml) |
Pint |
|
Ordinary strength (3.5 - 4%) (Carling Black Label, Fosters) |
1.3 units |
1.8 units |
2.3 units |
|
Premium strength (5%) (Stella Artois, Carlsberg Export, Grolsch, Kronenbourg 1664) |
2 units |
2.2 units |
3 units |
|
Super strength (9% +) (Tennent's Super, Special Brew) |
3 units + |
4 units + |
5 units + |
|
Alcopops |
Bottle (275ml) |
|
|
Ordinary strength (5%) (Smirnoff Ice, Bacardi Breezer, WKD, Reef) |
1.4 units |
|
|
Shots |
Small measure (25ml) |
Large measure (35ml) |
|
Tequila, Sambuca |
1 unit |
1.3 units |
|
Spirits |
Small measure (25ml) |
Large measure (35ml) |
Small double measure (50ml) |
Large double measure (70ml) |
|
Gin, rum, vodka, Bacardi & whisky |
1 unit |
1.4 units |
2 units |
2.8 units |
|
Wine (Red or White) |
Standard glass (175ml) |
Large glass (250ml) |
Bottle (750ml) |
|
11% |
1.9 units |
2.8 units |
8.3 units |
|
12% |
2.1 units |
3 units |
9 units |
|
13% |
2.3 units |
3.3 units |
9.8 units |
|
14% |
2.5 units |
3.5 units |
10.5 units |
|
Fortified Wine |
Standard measure (50ml) |
|
Sherry & port |
1 unit |
Websites and other information available on the web
Take The Drink Check Quiz
Alcohol - Know Your Limits
Clouds - Community Services
Services for adults aged 18 and over experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs. 01202 399723
Clouds - Families Plus
Services for family members and others who want help in understanding and coming to terms with the effects of living with the substance misuse of others. 01747 830733
Community Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service - West Dorset
Services for adults aged 18 and over experiencing problems with alcohol or drugs.
01305 265563
East Dorset Drug and Alcohol Advisory Service
Helpline and services for anyone whose life has been adversely affected by substance misuse.
01202 311600
Helpline 01202 311606
Shire Alcohol and Drug Outreach Worker Service (SHADOWS)
Advice and education for Young People under the age of 21 regarding Alcohol and drug issues.
01258 488486
The Young People's Substance Use Team
Services for young people whose life has been affected by substance misuse.
Based at ASSIST, 01305 228200
