Count 14 Campaign – how does your drinking add up?

When it comes to drinking alcohol, many of us could do with cutting down. After all, it’s not just expensive, alcohol can also increase our risk of bowel, breast and mouth cancers.

The number of weekly alcohol units recommended in the national guidelines is the same for men and women, cocktail connoisseurs and beer drinkers alike. But 14 units can look a little different depending on what your favourite tipple is.

That’s why this week, as part of the new public awareness campaign ‘Count 14’, we’re asking you: “how does your drinking really add up?”. 

The Scottish Government and NHS Health Scotland ‘Count 14’ campaign is encouraging people to consider their alcohol consumption and ensure that they understand what the guidelines look like in actual alcohol servings. For example 14 units is the equivalent of six glasses of wine, six pints of beer or seven double spirit measures.

To help keep your risks from alcohol low it’s recommended that you do not drink more than 14 units a week. These should not be ‘saved up’ for just one day but spread over at least three days. Everyone should also aim to be alcohol-free for at least two consecutive days a week. If you are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, you should avoid alcohol completely.

Dr Tim Patterson, Joint Director of Public Health, said: “Research has found that people were aware of these guidelines and the health impacts that can come with regularly drinking over them. However, the same research found that there was limited understanding of what these guidelines actually look like in ‘real life’.

“Sometimes it can be easy to lose track of exactly how much alcohol you have consumed over the week - that mid-week catch up, Friday night pint and Sunday lunch glass of wine all add up. So we are encouraging people to visit the Count 14 website to see how much they are really drinking and consider the risks that come with alcohol consumption.”

Find out how your alcohol consumption adds up and how you can reduce your risk of harm via: www.count14.scot

If you are concerned about your own, or someone else’s drinking, information on services available across the Scottish Borders can be found online via: www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/badp