A doctor has detailed exactly how many days you should spend without drinking each week, as Britain gears up to embrace the festive season with open arms.
Silly season is almost upon us, which for many means nightly Baileys-spiked hot chocolates, glasses of rich eggnog, and one-off Christmas cocktails like Cranberry Cosmos and Yule Mules.
According to Drinkaware statistics, over half of UK adults (57 percent) will likely binge drink on Christmas Day, with the most popular tipple being a medium glass of wine.
While not everyone is planning a Boxing Day blowout, Dr Brad McKay, an Australian general practitioner, wrote in his column for the Daily Mail that even being a ‘moderate’ drinker this festive season can cause serious, irreversible damage to your body.
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“Even a single drink can harm your body. People don't realise how awful alcohol is for our bodies - and no amount should be deemed 'safe’,” he confessed.
“If you drink less alcohol, you'll have better sleep, healthier skin, clearer thinking, stronger immunity, better mood, higher energy levels and more cash.”
Dr McKay insisted that no amount of alcohol is truly safe and that there ‘really aren't any health benefits’, despite studies claiming drinking is ‘good for the heart and circulatory system’.
The GP’s claim is backed up by recent research conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), suggesting no level of alcohol consumption is safe for overall health.
The media commentator also explained that people who gulp gin, rum, and other beverages alongside smoking are at a higher risk of developing mouth and throat cancer.
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“Alcohol inflames the tissue it touches, making it even more vulnerable to the cancer-causing substances found in tobacco smoke. It's literally a killer combination,” he wrote.
If you’re worried about your alcohol consumption, then Dr McKay has revealed exactly how many alcohol free days you should be having every week - if you can't go for the full seven.
The medical practitioner claimed that because of how harmful beer, wine, and cider can be to the human body, the ideal scenario is to have seven drink-free days per week.
He admitted that as the festive season draws closer, abstaining from alcohol probably isn’t at the forefront of many people’s minds.
“The guidelines suggest having at least two alcohol-free days per week, but it's better to have more than this,” the Sydney-based expert explained.
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“The main reasons for taking alcohol-free days are to give your liver a chance to recover, to prevent your body from building up a tolerance and to avoid developing a psychological dependence on alcohol.”
Dr McKay added that even a ‘couple of days off each week’ can majorly improve both your physical and mental health.
Men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week regularly. If you do drink this much, then you should spread your beverages out over three or more days per week.
Those looking to cut down on their tequila consumption are advised to try drinking low and no-alcohol alternatives, choose smaller glasses, and practice their drink refusal skills by Alcohol Change UK.
Please drink responsibly. If you want to discuss any issues relating to alcohol in confidence, contact Drinkline on 0300 123 1110, 9am–8pm weekdays and 11am–4pm weekends for advice and support
Ella Scott