Although men historically have drunk more alcohol than women, alcohol intake in women has increased. In a 2014 survey, 64% of men in the previous week had drunk alcohol in comparison to 53% of women.

Following a review of the health effects of alcohol, government guidelines are that If you choose to consume alcohol, you should not regularly drink more than 14 units a week, whether you are a man or a woman.

This recommended limit is roughly equivalent to six alcoholic drinks (or less than one and a half bottles of wine) a week. If you do drink as much as 14 units per week, it is best to spread this evenly over three or more days.

The Health Survey for England found that around 1 in 6 women drank more than 14 units in a week. Drinking more than 14 units a week was highest among women aged 55-64 years and those living in higher income households.

Health effects of alcohol

Regularly drinking more than 14 units a week increases the risk of:

• cancers of the mouth, throat and breast
• stroke
• heart disease
• liver disease
• brain damage
• damage to the nervous system

The effects of alcohol on your health will depend on how much you drink. The less you drink, the lower the health risks.

Alcohol and pregnancy

Experts are still unsure exactly how much, if any, alcohol is completely safe for you to have while you're pregnant, so the safest approach is not to drink at all while you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

Reducing alcohol intake

If you regularly drink more than 14 units a week of alcohol, reducing the amount you drink or cutting it out of your diet can be challenging. Understanding what makes you want to drink and what you can do to cut down and stay motivated may help.