§ Mr. SpellarTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what levels of alcohol intake have been recommended as a maximum by her Department; what recent research her Department has commissioned as to healthy levels of alcohol intake; and what plans she has to issue revised guidelines.
§ Mr. BowisThe Government do not recommend maximum levels of alcohol intake. Our advice to people who wish to drink alcohol is that drinking less than 21 units per week by men or 14 units per week by women is unlikely to damage health. Drinkers are also advised that consuming more than 50 units of alcohol a week for men or 35 for women is definitely dangerous to health. The Department have not commissioned any recent research into healthy levels of alcohol intake, but the results of research nationally and internationally are monitored by our medical and scientific staff. We have no plans at present to change our advice to drinkers. In the light of recent research findings, however, the Government have decided to consider whether the sensible drinking message needs any modification or qualification. Details of action proposed will be announced shortly.