January is traditionally a time when people in Britain consider taking a break from alcohol, but the latest guidelines from the UK’s chief medical officers suggest more long-term changes could be necessary. Men have been advised to drink no more than seven pints of beer a week - in line with the recommended maximum for women - and experts warn that any amount of alcohol consumption increases cancer risk for either sex.
The guidelines, the first issue in twenty years, represent a toughening up of the advice in line with the latest research.
Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, denied that the new guidelines were scaremongering and predicted other countries would follow Britain’s lead in recalibrating their advice.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: “We have to be very careful to ensure that the public know the risks of drink, so they can take their choice.”
We’d like to hear your reaction to the new guidelines. Will you be changing your drinking habits in line with the new advice, or do you feel the guidelines are too strict? Are you surprised or worried to find your intake far exceeds the recommended maximum, or are you happy with your alcohol consumption levels?
Let us know your thoughts on the new guidelines by filling out the form below. We’ll feature a selection of your responses in an article on the Guardian website.
