Australians may be looking forward to knocking a few back over the festive period, but the country’s guidelines around alcohol consumption have just been lowered.
Previous guidelines where released in 2009 but fresh research has prompted the Aussie government to get stricter on drinking.
Alcohol consumption has been linked to a number of health conditions, including seven different types of cancer. As a result, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has knocked the recommended number of drinks per week down from 14 to 10.
They say drinks rather than units, which can be calculated with a rather handy online tool. For example, a ‘standard’ drink means 97ml of red wine at 13% alcohol volume or 362ml of mid-strength beer at 3.5% alcohol volume.
‘The aim of the guidelines is to provide clear guidance for Australians on reducing their risk of harm from drinking alcohol,’ explained the NHMRC.
‘They are also intended to form the evidence base for future policy making and educational materials.’
The new guidelines are currently only in draft form and will be open to public consultation until February 24.
Over here in the UK, men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units over the course of a week. That translates to 6 pints of mid-strength beer or ten small glasses of low-strength wine.
One 750ml bottle of red wine at 13.5% alcohol volume contains 10 units while a 330ml can of 5% lager clocks in at 1.7 units.
The NHS suggests that men and women in the UK should ‘try to have several drink-free days each week’. Which we’re sure is just what you want to hear in the week before Christmas.
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