Make that a double... the figure disbelieving doctors put on the drink claims of fibbing patients

– and have at least two alcohol-free days a week. But a fifth said they exceeded that and a third said they did not know what the limit was.

Prof Stokes-Lampard added: “GPs are not killjoys, but recommended drinking limits are set for good reason.”

The findings chime with research suggesting Britain’s binge drinking culture is now the preserve of the older middle classes, with doctors, lawyers and teachers more likely to hit the bottle than manual workers.

Four in five people earning at least £40,000 said they drank in the previous week, compared with 46.5 per cent earning less than £10,000.

Jane Morgan of Direct Line Life Insurance said: “Most of us enjoy a drink from time to time but it’s important to be honest about it. Without all the correct information you may not get the right diagnosis or treatment.”