Drinking two days in a row is a ‘risk’

A UK Government health quango has warned of the dangers of drinking for two consecutive days urging consumers instead to adopt a “one day on, one day off” policy.

Public Health England, set up to promote healthy living in the UK, is advising consumers to refrain from drinking two days in a row, if they want to avoid health issues such as cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.

Its 92-page paper, set to be released in full shortly, said: “Daily drinking is a key contributor to increased risk, so it is possible that promoting a simple approach such as never drinking two days in a row would have a positive impact.”

The report is also expected to warn that drinking alcohol regularly, even if it only just over the “low risk” guideline, the equivalent of two pints for men, could lead to health problems in later life.

Current advise from the chief medical officer is for people to abstain from drinking alcohol at least two days a week, but fresh guidance is expected to suggest that three to four days a week might be more appropriate.

However the proposals have been criticised for “nannying” consumers, with Tory MP Gerald Howarth slamming the advice as “completely unrealistic”.

GP Martin Scurr told the Daily Mail: “Giving up alcohol on alternate days is not something most doctors would recognise as a helpful strategy to curb excessive drinking.

“It’s hard to see how this plan from Public Health England will persuade excessive drinkers to rein back.”

While Chris Snowden of the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank told said that official bodies constantly altering guidelines has led to people not paying attention to them, adding that the Government would be much better if it simply adopted a policy of “everything in moderation.”