Here’s some sobering news: A large international study says adults should average no more than one alcoholic drink per day, and that means drinking guidelines in many countries may be far too loose.
The study found that people who down more than seven drinks a week can expect to die sooner than those who drink less.
‘What this is saying is, if you’re really concerned about your longevity, don’t have more than a drink a day,’ said David Jernigan, a Johns Hopkins University alcohol researcher who was not involved in the study.
The authors say the findings are in line with NHS recommendations that women and men drink no more than 14 units (about six glasses) a week. The NHS also advises that if you do drink this much you should spread it over at least three days.
However, while the U.S. government currently recommends no more than seven drinks a week for women, the recommendation for men is 14 drinks.
Canada and Sweden have guidelines similar to those in the U.S. set by the Department of Agriculture. But some countries have much higher ceilings – Spain and Romania set the upper limit for men at the equivalent of 20 drinks each week, for example.
UK guidelines were like the US standards until two years ago, when health officials brought the recommendation for men down to the level for women.
The study ‘is a serious wake-up call for many countries,’ Jeremy Pearson from the British Heart Foundation said in a statement. The group partly funded the study, which was published on Thursday in the Lancet.
Here’s some sobering news: A large international study says adults should average no more than one alcoholic drink per day, and that means drinking guidelines in many countries may be far too loose.
The study found that people who down more than seven drinks a week can expect to die sooner than those who drink less.
‘What this is saying is, if you’re really concerned about your longevity, don’t have more than a drink a day,’ said David Jernigan, a Johns Hopkins University alcohol researcher who was not involved in the study.
The authors say the findings are in line with NHS recommendations that women and men drink no more than 14 units (about six glasses) a week. The NHS also advises that if you do drink this much you should spread it over at least three days.
However, while the U.S. government currently recommends no more than seven drinks a week for women, the recommendation for men is 14 drinks.
Canada and Sweden have guidelines similar to those in the U.S. set by the Department of Agriculture. But some countries have much higher ceilings – Spain and Romania set the upper limit for men at the equivalent of 20 drinks each week, for example.
UK guidelines were like the US standards until two years ago, when health officials brought the recommendation for men down to the level for women.
The study ‘is a serious wake-up call for many countries,’ Jeremy Pearson from the British Heart Foundation said in a statement. The group partly funded the study, which was published on Thursday in the Lancet.
