Alcohol and weight management

Alcohol is also linked with an increased risk of developing certain cancers. Sticking to sensible drinking guidelines is good for your health and your waistline.

Current guidelines recommend that men should drink no more than three units of alcohol a day (or 21 a week) and women should drink no more than two units a day (or 14 a week). It’s a good idea to have a couple of alcohol-free days each week.

The following gives you an idea of how many calories and units are in certain alcoholic drinks:

• A pint of lager contains about 190 calories and two units of alcohol.
• A standard glass of white wine contains about 130 calories and two units of alcohol.
• A 25ml vodka with coke contains about 115 calories and one unit of alcohol.

Here are some tips for cutting down on your alcohol intake:

• Have a shandy using a low-calorie mixer.
• Make your drinks last longer by adding low-calorie or calorie-free mixers to spirits or white wine in a tall glass.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with low-calorie, non-alcoholic ones.
• Have a glass of water alongside an alcoholic drink.