lower harm alcohol levels
Low-risk drinking reduces the risk of alcohol-related problems - as published by the Health Service Executive Ireland.
Weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines
The recommended weekly low-risk alcohol guidelines are less than:
11 standard drinks for women
17 standard drinks for men
Drinks should be spread out over the week.
Have 2 to 3 alcohol-free days per week. Drink no more than 6 standard drinks on any one occasion.
The less you drink the lower the risk of developing alcohol-related health issues.
What is in a standard drink?
In Ireland a standard drink has about 10 grams of pure alcohol. In the UK a standard drink, also called a unit of alcohol, has about 8 grams of pure alcohol.
Some examples of a standard drink in Ireland are:
a pub measure of spirits (35.5ml)
a small glass of wine (12.5% volume)
a half pint of normal beer
an alcopop (275ml bottle)
A bottle of 12.5% alcohol wine has about seven standard drinks.
Spread out your drinks
Sticking to the limit is not safe if you drink your weekly allowance in one session, or over a couple of nights. Drinking like this is the most harmful way of drinking for your health. You're also more likely to lose control, have accidents and take risks.
All measures are not the same
Home measures tend to be bigger than pub measures and some drinks are stronger than others.
If you want to be sure about how much you're drinking, check the:
size of your glass or bottle
size of the measures you pour at home
strength of the alcohol
When it's not safe to drink at all
It is not safe to drink:
if you're pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant
if you are on certain medications or have a condition made worse by drinking
before you operate machinery
before or while driving
before doing anything risky or that requires skill
before or during swimming