Peer pressure and drinking in large groups can make people drink more than they normally would

The Government’s recommended alcohol limit for a woman is three units a day and 14 a week. Yet many women, including girls as young as 11, spend their weekends ‘downing’ shots of liqueur, guzzling alcopops and wine, and often significantly exceed the recommended amount. This leads to a reduced awareness of surroundings, and so puts women at risk. The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England also estimates that up to 22,000 premature deaths per year are associated in some way with alcohol misuse.

The way we drink in the UK is very different to the rest of Europe, where alcohol is usually consumed gradually with a meal. Here, many young women go out with the main intention of getting as drunk as possible. Social pressure and discounted drink offers may encourage this excessive drinking. There is no fixed definition of binge drinking in the UK, but a common one is the consumption of 50% more than the recommended units of alcohol in ‘one session’, e.g. one night out. So for a female the consumption of three large glasses of white wine would be classified as binge drinking.

Cutting down
If you’re out with friends or colleagues, you may feel under pressure to drink, so try alternating alcoholic drinks with soft drinks to lessen the effect. Always go for single shots if your drinking spirits, and ask the barperson to fill the glass to the top with the mixer. Don’t buy rounds as this often leads to you drinking a lot more than you planned. If you’re drinking with male friends this can be especially dangerous, as it is medically proven that men can drink a lot more than women without feeling the effects, so never try to keep up with them. Stick to your guns – tell them you’re driving, on a health kick, or simply smile sweetly and stick to soft drinks. Try changing your routine, too – if you normally spend the weekends in bars, pubs and clubs find a new hobby, draft in a friend and you will be more likely to stick to it.

How much is a unit?
250ml glass of Pinot Grigio = 3
Double vodka and coke = 2
Pint of cider = 3

Safety wise
The drink drive limit in the UK is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. This can’t be worked out precisely according to how much you drink as drink affects everyone differently depending on factors such as your metabolism, weight and how much you’ve eaten that day. Remember, if you have been drinking, you may still be over the limit the next day.

Risks of binge drinking
Excess calories
Bad for your skin (acne)
Ageing
Dehydration
Lose inhibitions
Liver disease
Nausea
Depression
Loss of consciousness
Incontinence
Hangover the next day, and possibly the one after that
It’s expensive
Makes you crave fatty foods
Violence and antisocial behaviour