Moray residents urged to 'Count 14'
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NHS Grampian is encouraging people across the Moray area to Count 14 to keep the risk from alcohol low.
It comes as research shows wine, beer and spirits drinkers remain largely unsure of how many drinks make up the recommended weekly alcohol unit guideline.
People who have looked to reduce their alcohol intake in January are being urged to Count 14 in February, and beyond.
Figures from a YouGov poll showed only 15 per cent of beer, lager and cider drinkers in Scotland were able to correctly identify that six pints equals 14 units, with 16 per cent of wine drinkers knowing 14 units equated to six medium glasses of wine.
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those who drink spirits regularly knew seven double measures added up to the recommended maximum unit guideline.
Of those who drink wine, beer, or spirits, many simply answered ‘don’t know’ when asked how many of each drink made up 14 units.
The Scottish Government’s Count 14 campaign, backed by NHS Grampian, aims to help people understand how their weekly drinking adds up.
The health board's director of public health said: "It is estimated that one in four adults regularly drink alcohol at levels which increase their risk of experiencing health harms.
"Alcohol contributes to the development and worsening of more than 60 conditions including breast cancer, bowel cancer, heart problems, high blood pressure and mental health problems. The avoidable burden of harm and poor health is immense.
"The messages of Count 14 apply to all of us, as consumers we have the right to know about the harms and how best to lower the risk."
Figures released last year highlighted that in 2018, Scots bought enough alcohol for every adult to drink 19 units of alcohol per week, meaning that, on average, every adult in Scotland is drinking 36 per cent more than the lower risk guidelines.
Scotland’s Alcohol Framework 2018: Preventing Harm was launched in November 2018 which set out the Scottish Government’s national prevention aims on alcohol.
Chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said: "The alcohol guidelines are based on the clear evidence that as alcohol use increases, so does the risk of a range of health harms.
"To keep these risks low it’s recommended that men and women don’t drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. The 14 unit guideline equates to six pints of medium strength beer, lager or cider; six medium glasses of wine or seven double measures of spirits over the course of a week.
"By increasing understanding of what this means in terms of actual alcoholic drinks, our hope is that adults in Scotland are able to make more informed choices."
Visit count14.scot for more information.
