Alcohol units awareness
Monday, 19 May 2008 12:39
An average pint of beer contains two units
There is widespread ignorance about how many units of alcohol there are in drinks, according to a new survey.
The YouGov polled found that most people claim to know what a unit of alcohol is but 77 per cent of people do not know how many units are in a glass of wine.
More than half (55 per cent) of those questioned thought a large glass of wine would contain two units, when it actually contains three.
Over a third (35 per cent) did not know that an average pint of beer contains two units, while nearly three out of five (58 per cent) did not know a double gin and tonic also contains two units.
The survey was released to coincide with the launch of the biggest alcohol awareness campaign to date.
The Department of Health's Know Your Limits campaign aims to let drinkers know how many units are in their drinks and to help them stick to healthy limits.
Adverts will appear on television, radio, advertising boards and newspapers advising that women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day and men three to four.
Excessive alcohol consumption has been proven to play a significant role in the development of numerous diseases, including several cancers, heart disease and stroke.
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "Glass sizes have grown larger and the strength of many wines and beers has increased, so it's no wonder some of us have lost track of our alcohol consumption.
"This campaign is all about helping people understand how many units are in their favourite drinks, and helping them to keep an eye on their intake for the good of their long-term health."
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