Drinking guidelines

Whisky in a glass

How much can I drink?

The UK Government defines daily sensible drinking as:

Men should not regularly consume more than: 3-4 units of alcohol

Women should not reguarly consume more than: 2-3 units of alcohol

1 unit: 25ml measure of spirit (40% alcohol), 50ml glass of sherry, port or vermouth (20% alcohol), ½ pint beer, cider or lager (3.5% alcohol)

1.5 units: 125ml glass of wine (12% alcohol)

2 units: 175ml glass of wine (12% alcohol), 1 pint beer, lager or cider (3.5% alcohol)

Useful tools to help you keep track of your alcohol consumption can be found at:

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholtracker.aspx

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Allergens and wine

You may have noticed a change to our wine labels as we introduced allergen information. Egg and milk proteins are commonly used to fine/clarify wines during the wine making process. Under new EU legislation we are obliged to label these allergens as well sulphites when they are used in our wines accordingly:

Allergens: Contains egg*, milk * and sulphites

* Used during clarification

Note: The egg and milk proteins are removed during processing and are unlikely to cause an effect to milk or egg allergic individuals.

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Hints & tips

  • Try mixing wine with sparkling water to make a spritzer - you’ll drink less alcohol but still enjoy a drink.
  • Swap to bottled beers instead of pints to cut down on the amount you drink.
  • Swap to a lower alcohol strength drink such as the Waitrose Low Alcohol Cider.
  • You don’t have to finish a bottle of wine - replace screw top or use a stopper.  Wine will keep for around three days.
  • Check the size of your wine glasses.  A small glass of wine is 125ml.  Measures poured at home tend to be more generous so go easy!
  • Invest in a spirit measure so you don’t overpour, and try having a long gin and tonic with a 25cl measure instead of a glass of wine
  • Try having a number of alcohol free days every week
  • For a great alternative to cocktails, try the occasional mocktail. Follow this link to some great recipes, cocktail search
  • For a great alternative to red wine try Waitrose Merlot Grape Juice.

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Alcohol and pregnancy

For information on alcohol and pregnancy, please visit our pregnancy webpage. Click here

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Alcohol and the law

Except for 16 and 17 year olds having a drink with a meal in a pub or licensed premises, it's against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket or other outlet, or for anyone to buy alcohol in a pub or off licence for someone under 18.

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For more information

Find out more about alcohol and your health:

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