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Did you know? L-R: Double vodka has 2.8 units and Kcals 144; 250ml glass of wine has 3.5 units and Kcals 196; 330ml bottle of lager has 1.65 units and Kcals 132; 120ml glass of champagne has 1.44 units and Kcals 89; pint of cider has 2.6 units and Kcals 239; bottle of spirits has 40 units and Kcals 2240.
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Over the limit?
Helen Tither29/ 4/2008
HOW often does that quick glass of wine after work turn into a whole bottle? Maybe you've got a weakness for the whisky - or two, or three - at the weekend. Or, could it be cocktails that have you hooked?
Of course, you might think that a couple of drinks here and there do you no harm at all. But those units can add up quicker than you think, particularly as bar measures now come in higher strengths and volumes than before.
Which could be wreaking havoc with your health. For instance, one large glass of wine alone could count for three and a half units of alcohol - more than the recommended daily limit for women of two to three units, and almost all the recommended limit for men of three to four units.
While current NHS guidelines cite a "harmful" limit of 35 units or more per week for women, and 50 or more for men. Drink too much and you could increase your risk of all kinds of diseases from mouth and throat cancer to high blood pressure, strokes, and weight gain.
A recent study by Liverpool John Moores University found that many people who drink in their own homes are supping "hazardous" levels of wine after work. While here in Manchester, we topped the table of "harmful" drinking hotspots - where people binge-drink on more than 50 units of alcohol per week.
But what can you do about it? First, take our simple test to see if you are drinking too much on a regular basis, then fill in our diary to keep a track of your alcohol habits over the next week. If you are reaching more than those NHS guidelines, it's time to think about ways to cut back.
Sensible limits
And that means looking at sensible drinking limits, not necessarily going cold turkey but knowing what levels of alcohol are safe for your body and when to stop. It's worth it for the health benefits - high blood pressure can reduce after one week, normal sleep patterns return after three months, and alcohol-related anxiety can see a week-by-week recovery.
"A lot of people drink more than they realise - perhaps it's a habit after work that you haven't noticed forming, alcohol is a drug after all," says Liz Burns, public health development advisor for alcohol in Manchester. "Which is why we have just launched Drink Smart, to show small changes could make a big difference.
"People used to think one drink counted as one unit, that doesn't count any more. One glass of 14 per cent wine and you might have had three units without realising it. All we are suggesting is to take a few small steps. Try a small glass of wine, instead of large, a single shot instead of a double. It all adds up.
"Also, looking at daily unit limits is much healthier than thinking in terms of a week. People used to think they could save all their units for the week up and drink them in one go, which has negative health effects as binge drinking. Plus, try to have at least two alcohol-free days a week."
Click on the link on the right to see if you are drinking too much and try to make a diary of your drinking to see how it all adds up...
Text SMART to 80480 for your free and confidential Drink Smart guide (standard text message rates apply). Phone DRINKLINE 0800 917 8282 for 24 hour advice and information on local alcohol services. Visit drinkaware.co.uk for more facts about alcohol, its effects and the law
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