![]() ![]() Official drinking guidelines are issued by governments and public health to advise on levels of alcohol consumption considered 'safe', 'responsible,' or 'low risk'. The enzyme ADH breaks down alcohol in the liver and in the lining of the stomach and women have less of it, so alcohol is broken down more slowly. There is also some evidence that women break down alcohol slightly differently. So, if a woman weighing 60 kgs drinks a double vodka then a man of the same size will need to drink a triple in order to reach the same blood alcohol level. Women's bodies are generally smaller and have less body water, so alcohol concentrations rise more quickly. To see how many units your favourite drinks contain?ĭoes alcohol affect men and women differently? I s the evidence base really shifting for low risk drinking guidelines? Creina Stockley, Health & Regulatory Information Manager, The Australian Wine Research Institute Your body (mainly your liver) takes about an hour to break down a unit of alcohol. What is a unit of alcohol?Ī unit is 8g or 10 ml of pure alcohol - that is half a pint of average strength beer, or a single shot of vodka - a 175ml glass of wine at 12% will contain 2 units. The latest guidelines from The Chief Medical Officer recommend that "To keep short term health risks from single drinking occasions to a low level, men and women can: limit the total amount of alcohol consumed on any occasion drink more slowly, with food, and alternating with water. Binge drinking over one or two nights a week can lead to health problems and anti-social behaviour. You should not 'save up' units and drink heavily at the weekends. The guidelines state that 'if you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this evenly over 3 days or more'. These are, for healthy adults, 14 units per week. How quickly you drink, and whether it is with food or on an empty stomach, also effects how quickly you absorb alcohol.Ĩth January 2016 the UK Chief Medical Officers changed their guidelines for low risk drinking.The Government looks at the risks and benefits of drinking alcohol and has been able to draw up safe or low risk guidelines for alcohol consumption. How alcohol effects us depends on many factors such as your age, size, sex and health. UNITS AND GUIDELINES Government guidelines Government advice on sensible drinking for adultsġ4 units of alcohol per week for both men and women ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |