To wonder if the Government alcohol advice is too strict?

[brasty]

Just that really. I wonder if the government guidelines that no adult should have more than 14 units a week, is too low? 14 units really is not that much. 1 bottle of wine over a week is 14 units.

How strong is your wine?? Usually more like 9 units I think.

Well it's advice, not law, so no different to telling me that I shodunt have more than 9 sugar cubes of sugar a day, I ignore it!

It's set low on purpose, its actually far far below the amount shown to be an actual problem.
Statistically, moderate drinkers are healthier than both heavy drinkers and teetotallers.

You just have to look at who influenced these guidelines to know they are based on ideology rather than science. The IAS were heavily involved and are almost totally funded by a group whose origins were to spread the principles of total abstinence from alcoholic drinks.

Statistically, moderate drinkers are healthier than both heavy drinkers and teetotallers

Please can you post a link to this research.

I have been trying to stick to these guidelines. I have drunk 9 units last week. But it isn't easy if you go out a lot.

It's lowest-common-denominator advice, like everything the government puts out
Bit like the changes to the drinking-when-pregnant advice. They changed it from 'a couple of drinks a week' to 'nil' because people were interpreting a couple of drinks a week to mean a couple of bottles of wine a week, and then were acting surprised when their baby had FAS

Same with this advice. We know people vastly underestimate their consumption so you have to pitch it low

Why is it not easy? Just because you go out doesn't mean you have to drink.

It's advice, guidelines. It could only be too "strict" if they were actually enforcing it.

I know that lemon. But I like a drink of alcohol. Soft drinks quickly get very boring.

content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2017200,00.html
psmag.com/social-justice/truth-wont-admit-drinking-healthy-87891
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20735372

There is lots more.

I don't under report my drinking. I realise from my post that I over estimate the number of units I drink. I under report at the GP since I read that GPs automatically double whatever you say I drink. Before that I used to be honest.

The GP doubling thing is rather annoying. I don't drink at all and when I say that they never believe me

The links you provided are old, bad science User. This article explains why, for example. For most people abstinence is healthier than moderate drinking.

www.healthyway.com/content/are-moderate-drinkers-really-healthier-than-non-drinkers

The abstinence groups in the studies included former drinkers (teetotal alcoholics) who often suffer from morbidity relating to historic alcohol use. When this specific sub-group are excluded - the 'benefits' of moderate drinking disappear.

YES - After fessing up at a new doctors surgery to having 3/4 glasses of wine on a Friday and Saturday night (I'm teetotal Sunday to Thursday) I was asked if I wanted a referral to a counsellor to discuss my drinking, which I clearly declined and left with the details for the drinkaware website. Apparently 'drinking' is the new 'smoking' (which I have never done) and doctors are starting to focus their attention on this. The whole incident upset me so much, I had to have a glass of wine when I got home !

I don't agree. There is plenty of research to support the conclusion I offered.
If you think that is "old bad science" I don't think you know how science works.

Especially when you link to daft woo sites to try and prove anything. According to "healthyway", nutella is carcinogenic.

Finding soft drink boring is worrying op? Can you not enjoy an evening out without the affects of alcohol?
Genuine question not being sarcastic.

There is plenty of research to support the conclusion I offered

And there is plenty of research to debunk it and support the opposite view.

Saying in a blasé way "moderate drinkers are healthier than both heavy drinkers and teetotallers" is a gross and potentially risky oversimplification of the body of scientific research as it stands.

Maybe, but you didn't offer any. I linked to science, you linked to america lifestyle hack opinions.
Must try harder.

OP if you need a drink to have fun and enjoy yourself then you have an issue. When sticking to the guidelines or not.

User Then try:

www.jsad.com/doi/10.15288/jsad.2016.77.185

I could give you 20 to counter your one but you can find them yourself if you look.