Alcohol guidelines may advise weekly ‘dry days’

Alcohol guidelines in the UK are set to be reviewed for the first time in 20 years and could recommend abstaining from consumption for at least two days a week.

New alcohol guidelines are due to be published in January and could recommend at least two dry days a week

According to reports, chief medical officer for England, Dame Sally Davies, will recommend adults refrain from drinking alcohol for a minimum of two days each week.

Furthermore, suggestions for how much alcohol men and women should drink on a daily basis could also be altered.

As it stands, men are advised to not exceed three to four units a day while women are told to not go above two to three units.

Middle-aged people could also be warned there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when the guidelines are published later this month.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “The chief medical officer, with advice from a group of independent experts, has reviewed current drinking guidelines.

“The proposals will be published in the New Year.”

Elaine Hindal chief executive of alcohol education charity Drinkaware, told the BBC that updated advice would “help people make better choices” about their drinking behaviour.

“Our research suggests that aside from the well-known impacts on the liver, broader alcohol-related health risks such as hypertension, heart disease and some types of cancer, are not commonly understood by many people,” said said.