Let Moderation Be Your Guide

Living in the Algarve, it’s sometimes hard to avoid having the odd drink or two, but, according to a recent survey by the British Department of Health, most of us don’t realise just how much alcohol we are actually consuming.

The survey of 1,429 drinkers in England found that more than a third of people do not know their recommended daily limit, which is, in fact, 2-3 units for women and 3-4 units for men. The survey coincided with a campaign by the government to increase alcohol awareness and to promote careful drinking.

Health Ministers are becoming increasingly concerned that people are unaware that increased glass sizes means that they are drinking a lot more than is recommended, and that also drinks are becoming stronger.

Over half of the people questioned -via the internet - believed that a large glass of wine equals two units of alcohol, when it actually equals three. The survey also discovered that those questioned were drinking at least two to three times a week.

In the Algarve, with such good wines available at such reasonable prices, most drinkers are probably consuming much more than that.

It can become increasingly confusing to know how much alcohol it is safe to consume. It seems that daily we are bombarded with information on how dangerous alcohol can be, yet the next day we are being told that one or two glasses a day is good for the heart or the blood. Well… is it good for us or not.