TEST YOUR DRINK KNOWLEDGE

Most of us are quick to accept a drink, but are you reaching for the bottle without knowing anything about alcohol? Score yourself 10 for every right answer.

‘Spread out your alcohol consumption over the week’

1

Which has the most calories? A Large glass of wine B Gin and tonic C Bottle of beer D Glass of Prosecco ANSWER: (A) The large glass of wine trumps the rest of the tipples with around 228 calories. A regular beer has around 150 and a G&T around 100. But if you’re calorie counting, Prosecco is the best choice, with typically 80 calories per glass.

2

The maximum recommended alcohol consumption per week is 14 units for men and women. What does it actually look like?

A 3 x 175ml glasses of wine

B 6 x 175ml glasses of wine

C 10 x 175ml glasses of wine ANSWER: (B) Six glasses of 13% wine tallies up to 14 units. ‘But spread these out,’ says Dr Thomas. ‘Never drink all your units in one go.’ 3

Heavy drinking can shrink your brain… A True

B False

ANSWER: (A) Heavy drinking for a long time can shrink the brain and the brain cells, which can then cause problems with your memory, ability to sleep and mood. Cutting down could help reverse, or prevent, some of the damage. 4 Do you know how much a measure of alcohol is?

Get hold of a glass or cup and, with water, pour yourself a measure as if you were fixing your favourite drink at home. Now pour the water into a measuring jug.

ANSWER: How do your measurements compare with actual ones? Give yourself 10 points if you’ve successfully measured 25ml for a single spirit or 125ml for a glass of wine.

5

How many drinks does a woman need to drink per week to be a ‘heavy drinker’?

A8

B 14

C 18

D 21

ANSWER: (A) Knocking back more than three drinks in a day, or more than eight in a week, means you’re a ‘heavy drinker’. Men can consume a bit more, but that’s generally because they weigh more. Being able to distinguish ‘moderate’ from ‘heavy’ drinking is the first step to understanding whether you have your drinking habits under control. To cut down, make sure you have several drink-free days each week.