Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol has been linked with a variety of cancers, including breast, gullet (oesophagus), and liver, as well as head and neck cancers. However, moderate amounts of alcohol, as part of a well-balanced diet, have been shown to reduce the risk of some cancers, such as prostate cancer, as well as helping to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke.

Current sensible drinking guidelines recommend that:

• men drink no more than 3 units of alcohol per day, or 21 per week
• and women drink no more than 2 units per day, or 14 per week.

One unit of alcohol is the equivalent of a small glass of wine (125ml), half a pint of standard strength beer or lager, or a single measure (25ml) of a standard strength spirits.

Drinking large quantities of alcohol in one session, binge drinking, is thought to be worse for your health than drinking a small amount each day. It is also recommended that people have 1 or 2 non-drinking days each week.