Sensible drinking

Doctors and scientists agree that there is no completely 'safe' lower limit when it comes to alcohol. Drinking alcohol will always carry some risk to health.

However, if we drink sensibly, the risks to health are very low and there could be some benefits to health.

So what do we mean by 'sensible drinking'?

Simply put, it means not getting drunk. Being drunk means that the liver is overloaded and can't deal with the alcohol in the bloodstream quickly enough to stop it affecting the rest of the body. At the same time as it's making us feel happy, light-headed and talkative, it’s also damaging cells – particularly cells in the liver.

How much is too much?

Men should drink no more than 3-4 units a day.
Women should drink no more than 2-3 units a day.

Hang on – what's a 'unit'?

An unit is equal to 10ml of pure alcohol. For more information on the strength of drinks, see our section on what's in a drink.

What about 'binge drinking'?

'Binge drinking' means different things to different people. For most, it means serious drunkenness, fighting and aggression, throwing up and behaving badly in public. This is the image of binge drinkers portrayed in the media and most people rightly conclude 'that's not me'.

The importance of alcohol-free days

Alcohol causes changes in the cells in our livers. Over time, these changes build up into liver disease and even liver cancer. By not drinking every day, the liver gets a chance to repair itself so that there's no lasting damage.

Everyone should have 2-3 days without alcohol every week.

If you drink over the sensible limit on any occasion, you should avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours.

However, medical definitions of binge drinking do exist.

In the UK, a 'binge' is usually reckoned to mean drinking more than 8 units if you're a man or 5 units if you're a woman.

Regular drinking at this level will damage your health and well-being.

Next page: Top tips for healthier drinking