Alcohol is consumed by people all around the world, with roughly 2.3 billion people being current drinkers.
However, it's important to understand the line between responsible drinking and alcohol abuse. Understanding how many units of alcohol per week are considered alcohol use is important for your overall health and well-being.
But how many units count as alcohol abuse? How much alcohol is dangerous? That’s what we’ll be exploring in this blog post.
Read on for more information about the concept of alcohol units, the factors that influence alcohol content, the health risks from alcohol, and the importance of seeking support when necessary.
What Are Alcohol Units?
Alcohol units are the standard measurement used to quantify the amount of alcohol in a drink. Different drinks vary in their alcohol content. It’s important to be aware of these variations when assessing your alcohol intake.
To make it easier to calculate your alcohol intake, the NHS provides a handy tool known as the "Unit Calculator." This can help you to understand the number of units in your weekly alcohol consumption.
You can input the type and quantity of alcoholic drinks you've consumed, and it will provide you with an estimate of the total units you've ingested.
This information can help you track your alcohol consumption and determine whether it falls within safe guidelines.
For reference, a small glass of wine typically contains around 1.5 units. A large glass of wine, however, contains around 3 units. Check out our helpful alcohol unit guide to learn more.
What About Alcohol Content/ ABV?
The alcohol content in a beverage is typically measured in Alcohol by Volume (ABV). The alcohol volume is typically represented as a percentage.
Different types of drinks contain varying levels of ABV. For example, strong spirits like vodka or whiskey have a higher ABV, often around 40-50%.
Wine, however, tends to range between 12-15%, and beer can be as low as 4-6%. These differences are important to consider when working out your alcohol consumption.
What is The Recommended Maximum Alcohol Intake?
The guidelines set by health authorities, such as the NHS, provide valuable advice on safe alcohol consumption. These guidelines are based on low-risk drinking levels.
It's recommended that both men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week. This should be spread across three or more days. Additionally, you should have at least two alcohol-free days/ drink-free days each week.
This limit is a helpful reference point to prevent binge drinking and associated health risks. For more specific information, we recommend that you speak to a healthcare professional or your GP.
This is because there are many factors that can determine how alcohol will affect you. Some factors include:
- Body size
- Gender
- Age
- Metabolism
- Food intake
- Tolerance
- Health conditions
- Medications
- Genetics
How Can I Determine Whether My Alcohol Consumption is Safe?
The risk associated with alcohol consumption goes beyond counting units. Several factors can influence your risk of developing alcohol-related problems.
For example, the frequency of drinking. Drinking large amounts of alcohol in a single session can be harmful, even if it falls within your weekly unit allowance. Drinking on a regular basis can also be dangerous in the long term.
Additionally, if you have certain health conditions, your tolerance to alcohol may be lower, making you more susceptible to its negative effects. Some medications may interact with alcohol, leading to adverse health outcomes.
Your personal circumstances and lifestyle can play a significant role in determining how alcohol affects you. Stress, mental health problems, and social influences can impact your drinking patterns.
The danger of drinking ultimately depends on a combination of how much you drink, how often you drink, and how quickly you drink.
For women, drinking 4 or more drinks a day or 8 or more drinks per week counts as ‘heavy drinking’. For men, the figure is slightly higher, with 5 or more drinks on any day, or 15 or more drinks per week.
Drinking heavily increases the risk of alcohol use disorder and other alcohol-related damage. When you have 4 (women) or 5 (men) or more drinks in the space of two hours, the blood alcohol content/ BAC rises to 0.08%. This meets the definition of binge drinking, which can be extremely dangerous.
Seek Support for Alcohol Abuse
If you find yourself wondering whether your alcohol consumption falls within safe guidelines, be sure to seek advice to make informed decisions about your health and well-being.
Acknowledging an alcohol addiction or dependency is not a sign of weakness - it’s a step towards a healthier and happier life.
Reducing alcohol consumption or completely detoxing from alcohol has countless benefits, and can lead to better physical and mental health. Support and addiction treatment can help you regain control of your life and break the cycle of addiction.
At Help4Addiction, we can ensure you receive the support you need to overcome your alcohol abuse issues. We can connect you with the best, most suitable alcohol rehab clinics near you.
Whether you’re looking to detox from alcohol at home, or you want to complete a more comprehensive treatment programme, we can help. You don’t have to deal with addiction alone - allow us to find you the right support.
