Lower-risk drinking guidelines: factsheet

Information on the lower-risk drinking guidelines for men and women that were introduced on 8 January 2016.


At the request of the UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), three groups of independent experts met between 2013 and 2016 to consider the evidence on the health effects and made a series of recommendations on new lower-risk drinking guidelines. The UK CMOs considered and accepted the advice of the expert group and agreed on three main recommendations: 

  • a weekly guideline on regular drinking
  • advice on single episodes of drinking
  • a guideline on pregnancy and drinking

The new guidelines took effect from 8 January 2016.

They recommend a maximum of 14 units of alcohol per week for both women and men to keep health risks low, preferably spread over three or more days, with no drinking at all during pregnancy. The full guidelines can be downloaded below.

UK Chief Medical Officers' low risk drinking guidelines

Contact

Email: Central Enquiries Unit ceu@gov.scot

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