Nearly half of us don't know what constitutes binge drinking

Research suggests that nearly half of UK adults still don't know the government's weekly recommended alcohol limits.

A survey by Priory has found that some 48% aren't aware that the weekly recommended limit is 14 units, a figure which rises to 57% among men.

More than 60% of UK adults also have no idea how much alcohol constitutes binge drinking.

What is binge drinking?

The NHS defines binge drinking as: "drinking lots of alcohol in a short space of time". UK researchers commonly define it as consuming more than six units of alcohol in a single session for men and women, with six units equivalent to drinking between three standard glasses of 13.5% strength wine (or just two large ones), or three pints of standard lager.

The definition used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for binge drinking is having over eight units in a single session for men, and over six units for women.

The findings come 2 years after the government refreshed its drinking guidelines after hearing "sufficient concerns" from experts about the health risks of drinking alcohol.

The Department of Health's limits - which came into effect in January 2016 - stated that both men and women should drink no more than 14 units in a week (14 units being equivalent to six pints of 4% lager, or around six standard glasses of 13.5% wine).

Previously, the guidelines were 14 units of alcohol a week for women and 21 for men.

Priory poll findings show:

More than two-thirds (69%) think drink manufacturers should do more to warn the public of the link between alcohol and conditions such as liver disease and mouth cancer
4 in 10 support more explicit health warnings on bottles and cans, similar to those on cigarette packets
More than half (54%) say the government should think of a better way of explaining what a 'unit' of alcohol consists of

The effects of alcohol on your health

Priory Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Niall Campbell, one of the UK's leading experts on alcohol addiction, based at Priory Hospital Roehampton, said: "These findings show that we need to transform the way we talk about alcohol so we all understand exactly how much we're drinking - and what it's doing to us.

"This is especially important because we all want to live longer - and may be expected to work longer - in good health. To talk about 'units' of alcohol frequently confuses people, because many think a unit is a glass of wine, almost regardless of its size, and some pubs and restaurants only serve large glasses. In truth, a large glass (250ml) of 13.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) wine consists of more than three 'units', so drinking two large glasses quickly can constitute binge drinking for some people."

Only 10 minutes after having a drink, 50% of the alcohol will be in your bloodstream.

Charity, Drinkaware, says: "Your body can only process one unit of alcohol per hour. Two large glasses of wine may not seem like very much. But drinking six units of alcohol in a short space of time - an hour, say - will raise your blood alcohol concentration and could make you drunk very quickly. The risks of short-term harm like accidents or injuries increase between two to five times from drinking five to seven units."

Dr Campbell added: "Overall, more older people are drinking and it's a burgeoning public health issue. As part of normal ageing, you don't metabolise alcohol as well. And the ability of the organs to respond to alcohol, which is a toxin, diminishes.

"What surprises most people is the low threshold that makes drinking become binge drinking or takes you over your weekly 'limit'. But there's never really been a public health campaign about alcohol in the same way as there has been around, say, smoking, and now is the time. People still don't link what they're drinking - and how much they're drinking - with their health, both physical and mental.

"Drinking responsibly is promoted by everyone from public health officials to beer and wine advertisers, but it's unclear how many people understand what that means.

"According to a 2017 ONS study, more than a quarter of 16 to 24 year olds are teetotal, a four-fold increase on the rest of the population, with just 1 in 10 seeing drinking as 'cool'. That's very positive. Now we need to tackle alcohol intake among people in their 30s, 40s and older, because these are the people I'm seeing at Priory whose lives have been wrecked by alcohol".

How many units? The maths…

To calculate the number of units you've drunk, you need to know the strength of the drink (% ABV) and amount of liquid in millimetres (one pint is 568ml and a standard glass of wine is 175ml).

You multiply the amount of drink in millilitres by the percentage ABV, and then divide by 1,000.

For example, if you order a pint of strong lager at 5% ABV:

1 pint (568ml) x 5 = 2,840

Divided by 1,000 = 2.840, or 2.8 units