No safe level of alcohol consumption
Colin Shevills, Director of Balance, the North East Alcohol Office, said: “We welcome the confirmation of the Chief Medical Officers’ new recommended drinking guidelines, following an extensive consultation period.
“The alcohol industry would like us to believe that the new guidelines are too strict, but strengthening evidence endorsed by independent medical experts, shows there is no “safe” level of drinking, only “low risk” drinking providing you stick within the limits.
"There is also no justification for recommending drinking on health grounds, as the risk of developing a range of illnesses increases with any amount of alcohol drunk.
“Many people are still unaware of the links between alcohol and cancer; as few as one in 10 people mentioned cancer in a recent CRUK study asking which health conditions result from drinking too much alcohol.
"This lack of awareness is particularly worrying when we’re seeing sharp rises in hospital admissions related to alcohol, now around 1 million every year.
“People have a right to know the health risks associated with drinking alcohol, even when it’s consumed at low levels. Many of us enjoy a drink now and then, but drinking is one of the things we have control over when it comes to our health. The guidelines are in place to give people advice, as it’s only by being aware that we can make informed decisions about how much we choose to drink.
“It’s vital that the Governments’ support of the new guidelines is now backed up by the introduction of compulsory health warning labels on all alcohol products and adequately funded mass media campaigns that make clear the health risks people face. Only then can we be sure that everything is being done to provide people with the knowledge and information they need to make informed decisions about how much they drink.”