There is no completely safe level of drinking alcohol. The NHS recommends not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week, which should be spread out over at least 3 days. That’s about 6 medium glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer.
The risks of excessive drinking include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, mental health problems and liver failure. In addition, having cancer may also make you more vulnerable to alcohol, especially if the cancer involves the liver.
Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk of complications after cancer treatments and prolong your recovery.
If you would like support in cutting down the amount of alcohol you drink, you can contact your GP or use the resources below.