Risks of drinking

If men drink up to 3 to 4 units a day and women up to 2 to 3, it’s usually safe and might help them feel relaxed, but drinking more can lead to serious health problems like feeling tired, sad, trouble sleeping, and illnesses like liver disease.

Lower Risk Drinking

• Men: No more than 3 to 4 units per day on a regular basis
• Women: No more than 2 to 3 units per day on a regular basis
• Common Effects: Increased relaxation, sociability, and reduced risk of heart disease (for men over 40 and postmenopausal women)

Increasing Risk Drinking

• Men: More than 3 to 4 units per day on a regular basis
• Women: More than 2 to 3 units per day on a regular basis
• Common Effects: Progressively increasing risk of:
  • Low energy
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Impotence
  • High blood pressure
  • Memory loss
  • Cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Alcohol dependence

Higher Risk Drinking

• Men: More than 8 units per day on a regular basis or more than 50 units per week
• Women: More than 6 units per day on a regular basis or more than 35 units per week
• Common Effects: Progressively increasing risk of:
  • Low energy
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Impotence
  • High blood pressure
  • Memory loss
  • Cancer
  • Liver disease
  • Alcohol dependence