Be sensible with alcohol

Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol has been linked with a variety of cancers, including breast|, gullet (oesophagus)|, and liver, as well as head and neck| cancers. However, moderate amounts of alcohol, as part of a well-balanced diet, have been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, such as prostate cancer|, as well as helping to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Current sensible drinking guidelines recommend that:

• men drink no more than 3 units of alcohol per day, or 21 per week
• and women drink no more than 2 units per day, or 14 per week.

One unit of alcohol is the equivalent of a small glass of wine (125ml), half a pint of standard strength beer or lager, or a single measure (25ml) of a standard strength spirits.

Drinking large quantities of alcohol in one session, binge drinking, is thought to be worse for your health than drinking a small amount each day. It is also recommended that people have 1 or 2 non-drinking days each week.