Alcohol and Your Health: What You Need to Know

Alcohol is widely consumed in the UK, with around 75–80% of adults drinking and over 10 million regularly exceeding the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines. Many people believe alcohol is only harmful in large amounts or for those who are dependent—but this is not true. Evidence shows there is no completely safe level of alcohol consumption, and most harm occurs in non-dependent drinkers.

📏 UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines

• Limit regular drinking to 14 units per week or less (for both men and women).

• Spread these units over 3 or more days—avoid heavy drinking sessions.

• Avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy—there is no safe level.

• For children and young people, the healthiest option is not drinking at all. If 15–17-year-olds do drink, it should be infrequent and never more than once a week.

• One unit = 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
  Example: A pint of beer (4% ABV) ≈ 2.3 units; a standard glass of wine (175ml, 12% ABV) ≈ 2 units.

⚠️ Why Alcohol Matters

• Alcohol misuse is the biggest risk factor for death, ill-health, and disability among 15–49-year-olds in the UK.

• Linked to violence, crime, health inequalities, and costs society up to £52 billion annually.

• One person dies every hour in the UK from alcohol-related causes.

⚠️ Health Risks

Alcohol contributes to over 200 health conditions and directly causes more than 60, including:

• Cancers (mouth, throat, oesophagus, liver, breast, bowel, pancreas)

• Heart problems (high blood pressure, arrhythmias, stroke)

• Liver disease (including cirrhosis)

• Brain damage and cognitive decline

• Mental health issues (depression, anxiety)

• Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in pregnancy

Even low levels of drinking can:

• Increase cancer risk

• Harm the brain

• Interact with medications

• Impair coordination (dangerous for driving)

• Increase risks for pregnant women and young people

🚫 Why Binge Drinking Is Particularly Harmful

Binge drinking means consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short time (typically 6+ units for women or 8+ units for men in one session).
This pattern of drinking is especially dangerous because:

• Blood alcohol levels rise quickly, overwhelming the body’s ability to metabolise alcohol.

• Increases the risk of accidents, injuries, and alcohol poisoning.

• Strongly linked to violence, risky sexual behaviour, and crime.

• Causes acute heart problems such as arrhythmias and sudden cardiac events.

• Can lead to blackouts and memory loss, harming brain health.

• Raises the risk of stroke and sudden death, even in otherwise healthy people.

• For young people, binge drinking is associated with long-term brain changes and higher risk of dependence later in life.

🧠 Alcohol and the Brain: Why It’s Neurotoxic

Alcohol is a neurotoxin, meaning it damages nerve cells and brain tissue. Key facts:

• No safe level for brain health: Research shows even small amounts of alcohol can harm the brain.

• Brain shrinkage: Regular drinking is linked to reduced brain volume, especially in areas controlling memory and coordination.

• Hippocampus and cerebellum: These regions, vital for learning and balance, are particularly vulnerable.

• Cognitive decline: Alcohol accelerates age-related brain changes and increases risk of dementia.

• Mental health impact: Alcohol disrupts neurotransmitters, contributing to depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.

• Tolerance and dependence: The brain adapts to alcohol, leading to tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, which reinforce addiction.

• Young brains at higher risk: Drinking during adolescence can impair brain development and increase lifelong risk of dependence.