Health chiefs: Take 2 days of f alcohol a week to reduce risks

DRINKERS should have at least two alcohol-free days a week to reduce the risk of liver disease, cancer and other illnesses, health chiefs say.

Public health experts are urging regular drinkers to set a weekly target of non-drinking days to improve health and avoid dependency.

It comes after a poll of almost 9,000 adults found two-thirds of regular drinkers – such as those who drink a glass of wine with dinner every night – believe cutting down would be harder than quitting smoking.

One in five is drinking above the recommended limit of 14 units a week, equivalent to a small 150ml glass of wine every day, the survey found.

Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England, said: ‘Many of us enjoy a drink but whether it’s a few in the pub after work a couple of times a week, some beers on the sofa watching the football or regular wine with our dinner, it’s all too easy to let our drinking creep up on us.

‘While the link with liver disease is well known, many people are not aware that alcohol can cause numerous other serious health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as several cancers. It’s also an easy way to pile on the pounds … about ten million people are drinking in ways that increase the risks and many are struggling to cut down.

‘Setting yourself a target of having more drink-free days every week is an easy way to drink less and reduce the risks to your health.’ Studies suggest taking at least two consecutive alcohol-free days can help reduce the risk of liver disease, alcohol dependency and serious illness.

More than 16,000 now die every year from liver disease, which is most often caused by excessive drinking. This is twice the number who died from it in 1991.

Regular drinking also increases calorie consumption and can contribute towards obesity and cause Type 2 diabetes, which affects 3.7million Britons.

The poll showed 28 per cent of men and 12 per cent of women are regularly drinking above the recommended safe guidelines.

Now public health experts and charity Drinkaware are launching a campaign – Drink Free Days – and a ‘drink calculator’ app that aim to discourage excessive consumption.

Elaine Hindal, chief executive of Drinkaware, said: ‘The more you drink, the greater the risk to your health. It’s really that simple. But an increasing number of people, particularly middle-aged drinkers, are drinking in ways that are putting them at risk of serious and potentially life-limiting conditions such as heart disease, liver disease and some types of cancer.

‘Having a few drink-free days each week will help reduce the risks to your health and improve your wellbeing.’

Victoria Taylor, of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘It’s easy to drink too much by having a pint or a glass or two of wine every night, but taking a few days off is a simple way to help you cut down and break the habit.

‘But remember, just because you have taken a few days off doesn’t mean that you can drink more than usual on the other days.’

‘Simple way to break the habit’