WINE, beer and spirits drinkers in Scotland remain largely unsure how many drinks make up the recommended weekly alcohol unit guideline of 14, according to new research released today.
Only 15% of beer, lager and cider drinkers were able to correctly identify that six pints equals 14 units, with only 16% of wine drinkers knowing 14 units equated to six medium glasses.
Almost a quarter (24%) of those who drink spirits regularly knew that seven double measures added up to the recommended maximum unit guideline.
Of those who drink wine, beer or spirits, many simply answered “don’t know” when asked how many of each drink made up 14 units (17%, 13% and 28% respectively).
READ MORE: UK ‘should follow Scotland on drink’
The Scottish Government’s Count 14 campaign aims to help people understand how their weekly drinking adds up. People who have looked to reduce their alcohol intake in January are being encouraged to Count 14 in February, and beyond, to keep the risks from alcohol low – with the campaign providing an easy guide to what 14 units actually looks like for a range of different alcoholic drinks.
The campaign will also tour supermarkets across Scotland to raise awareness of the national unit guideline.
Figures released last year highlighted that in 2018, Scots bought enough alcohol for every adult to drink 19 units of alcohol per week, meaning that, on average, every adult in Scotland is drinking 36% more than the lower risk guidelines.
Scotland’s Alcohol Framework 2018: Preventing Harm was launched in November 2018, which set out the Scottish Government’s national prevention aims on alcohol.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: “The alcohol guidelines are based on the clear evidence that as alcohol use increases, so does the risk of a range of health harms. To keep these risks low it’s recommended that men and women don’t drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
“The 14-unit guideline equates to six pints of medium strength beer, lager or cider; six medium glasses of wine or seven double measures of spirits over the course of a week.
“By increasing understanding of what this means in terms of actual alcoholic drinks, our hope is that adults in Scotland are able to make more informed choices.”
READ MORE: Alcohol sales in Scotland hit 24-year low
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “This research points towards confusion amongst adults as to how the maximum unit guideline applies to their drink of choice.
“Statistics show that as a nation we are continuing to drink more than the lower risk guidelines, so it’s vital we continue to increase understanding of how drinking can add up, and the associated impact exceeding the guidelines on a regular basis can have on health.
“Whilst there is no safe limit when it comes to alcohol, working out what 14 units looks like, and spreading those units over three days or more, can help lower the risk of harm.”
Fourteen units is the equivalent of:
- Six pints of medium strength beer, lager or cider (4% ABV, 568ml)
- Six medium glasses of wine (13% ABV, 175ml)
- Seven double measures of spirits (40% ABV, 50ml)
For further information on the guidelines visit count14.scot.
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