Your guide to the new alcohol drinking guidelines

Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about the tough new guidelines on consuming alcohol.

Regular drinking

• Men and women who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units per week and spread this out over three days or more

• But health chiefs have made clear that there is no "safe" drinking level

• The risk of developing a range of illnesses - including cancer - increases with any amount you drink on a regular basis

• People should have several booze-free days a week

What does 14 units of alcohol look like?

• 6 pints of beer (4% strength)

• 7 glasses of wine (12%)

• 14 shots of spirits (40%)

How many units of alcohol are in each drink?

• Single shot of spirits (25ml): 1 unit

• Standard (175ml) glass of wine: 2.1 units

• Large (250ml) glass of wine: 3 units

• Pint of 4%-strength beer: 2.3 units

• Pint of 5%-strength beer: 2.8 units

• Pint of strong cider (8%): 4.5 units

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Binge drinking

• People should not "save up" their 14 units of alcohol for a one-night binge

• Chief medical officers have always warned people against binge drinking and the new guidelines are no different

Tips for drinking on any single occasion

If you are going to drink, medical chiefs advise:

• Limiting the total amount of alcohol you drink on any occasion

• Drinking more slowly, drinking with food, and alternating with water

• Avoiding risky places and activities, making sure you have people you know around, and ensuring you can get home safely

Drinking in pregnancy

• No level of alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy, the guidelines state

• Drinking can lead to long-term harm to the baby - the more you drink the greater the risk

• However, if the woman has drunk only small amounts of alcohol before she knew she was pregnant or during pregnancy, the risks to the baby are likely to be low