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