British Underestimate Alcohol Content of Popular Drinks
A survey of 1,420 drinkers conducted by Britain’s Department of Health has found that more than one in three participants were not aware of the recommended daily limits for alcohol consumption. And three-quarters of those surveyed did not know that the average glass of wine contains three units of alcohol. Â
The survey, coincident with a government campaign to encourage responsible drinking, found half of those questioned drank alcohol at least two or three times a week. And while 82% said they knew how much a unit of alcohol was, 77% did not know how many units were in a typical large glass of wine.
The Department of Health recommends a daily alcohol limit of 2-3 units for women, and 3-4 units for men.
Government health officials are concerned that people are unaware that portion sizes have increased and some drinks have now become stronger.
Over half (55%) of the participants believed a large glass of wine contained two units of alcohol, when it actually contains three. And 58% were not aware that a double gin and tonic contains two units.  More than one in three (35%) did not know that a pint of beer contains more than two units of alcohol, and only 36% of women and 50% of men were aware of their daily-recommended limits for alcohol consumption. Â
Last December, Britain’s Office of National Statistics updated its assessment method to account for the increased glass sizes and strength of common alcoholic drinks.
The “Know Your Limits” campaign hopes to inform drinkers about the number of units that are now in their drinks, and help them adhere to the recommendations. The campaign includes a series of television, radio and newspaper ads that show the number of alcohol units in various individual drinks. The ad uses typical family settings, and warns of the health dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo told BBC News that people are not always aware of the amount of alcohol they consume, and how much it can harm their health.
"Glass sizes have grown larger and the strength of many wines and beers has increased, so it’s no wonder some of us have lost track of our alcohol consumption,” she said.
"We aim to give people the facts about how many units are in different drinks in a non-judgmental way. Then they can then make their own assessments about how much they want to drink in the future."
Mrs. Primarolo said the campaign was geared toward those over 25, who were less aware than younger people about the amount of alcohol contained in a unit.
The survey found that 32% of drinkers aged 18-24 correctly answered that a large glass of wine contains three units, compared with only 18% of drinkers over 55.
"When it comes to alcohol GPs are used to hearing half truths about half measures,” Royal College of General Practitioners chairman Professor Steve Field told BBC News.
"People need to have a better grasp of how much they’re drinking by adding up their units.
"Alcohol can be a major contributing factor in many health disorders so it’s vital that people think about how much alcohol they drink," he said.
Joe Korner of The Stroke Association said the organization strongly supports campaigns that educate people of the health risks associated with excessive drinking.
"There are around 1,100 hemorrhagic stroke deaths every year associated with alcohol and statistics show that women who drink over double their recommended limits are more than four times likely to suffer a stroke, and men almost twice as likely," he told BBC News.
"We fully support the aim of giving people information on which to make their own decisions,” said Mark Hastings of the British Beer and Pub Association.
"But the government needs to be careful not to target the sensible majority while failing to tackle abuse by the minority,” he told the BBC. Â
"What people need is realistic advice and sensible action, not interference with their own judgment."
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