Any level of alcohol is not safe, says the guidelines, and recommended levels have been drastically cut
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Britain is defending the introduction of new guidelines on alcohol consumption, now among the strictest in the world.
Any level of alcohol is not safe, says the guidelines, and recommended levels have been drastically cut.
Critics say it is just scaremongering by a “nanny state”.
But the Chief Medical Officer for England, Sally Davies, said: “It’s for the public to take their decisions on what they do.
“But I hope they will protect themselves. And actually, people are pretty savvy, intelligent about their health. Many people will take this on board.”
Officials insist the new guidelines are based on firm scientific evidence, confusing some who understood that moderate drinking can be good for you.
Wine drinker Carla Bennett said: “All my days of drinking, it has always been known that red wine is good for your blood and the Mediterraneans have it every meal time and it was a bit of a shock to know that it’s not good to have any type of alcohol.”
Britons are now advised to drink no more than six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine per week, far less than what is recommended in other countries.
The new recommendations also say people should have several drink-free days a week and spread out their consumption.