FIVE THINGS ABOUT DRINKING AND HEALTH

1 HARD LIQUOR TRUTH

British health officials say drinking any alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer and have issued tough new guidelines that could be hard to swallow in a nation where having a pint is a hallowed tradition.

2 PULL YOUR PINTS

In recommendations released Friday, Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advised both men and women not to drink any more than 14 units of alcohol — about six pints of beer or about four large glasses of wine — a week and said even that still carries a low risk of liver disease or cancer. Previously men had been told they could drink up to 21 units a week.

3 LOTS TO DRINK IN

Alcohol is a known carcinogen; in the U.S., experts estimate it causes about 3.5 per cent of all cancer deaths. People who have more than about four drinks a day have up to a three- fold greater risk of cancers of the head and neck than non- drinkers.

4 EAT, DRINK, BE WARY

In a nation known for its ales and pubs, Britons are unlikely to abandon drinking in droves. Lax control of retail sales and cheap alcohol have fuelled a rise in bingedrinking, which was once declared a national scandal by Prime Minister David Cameron. Even the new guidance acknowledges people are unlikely to give up drinking.

5 THE DRINKING AGE

While some studies have suggested drinking moderate levels of red wine is good for the heart, officials say that only applies to women over age 55, in whom the greatest benefit is seen when women drink no more than about two glasses a week. “The group concluded that there is no justification for drinking for health reasons,” the government said.