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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Strong drinks 'raise binge risk' | Strong drinks 'raise binge risk' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Updated alcohol abuse figures show more people in Scotland are drinking to binge levels than previously estimated. | |
| Stronger drinks and bigger measures mean consumption may be twice the level previous surveys have reported. | Stronger drinks and bigger measures mean consumption may be twice the level previous surveys have reported. |
| NHS Health Scotland figures show 34% of men drink more than the recommended 21 units a week and 23% of women drink more than the recommended 14 units. | |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the government was determined to act to address Scotland's drinking culture. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said the government was determined to act to address Scotland's drinking culture. |
| Ms Sturgeon said a strategy to deal with alcohol misuse would be published before the summer. | Ms Sturgeon said a strategy to deal with alcohol misuse would be published before the summer. |
| She added: "More and more people in Scotland are perhaps coming to realise that many of us drink just a bit too much. | She added: "More and more people in Scotland are perhaps coming to realise that many of us drink just a bit too much. |
| The alcohol challenge faced by Scotland appears to be more serious than we thought Sonnda CattoNHS Health Scotland | The alcohol challenge faced by Scotland appears to be more serious than we thought Sonnda CattoNHS Health Scotland |
| "Now there's nothing wrong with enjoying alcohol, it's alcohol misuse that's the problem. | "Now there's nothing wrong with enjoying alcohol, it's alcohol misuse that's the problem. |
| "Some of the figures we've seen in recent years about consumption levels, about the cost, do make all of us stop and think about it and certainly the government wants to push this up the agenda as an issue and look to see what more we can do to tackle it." | "Some of the figures we've seen in recent years about consumption levels, about the cost, do make all of us stop and think about it and certainly the government wants to push this up the agenda as an issue and look to see what more we can do to tackle it." |
| NHS Health Scotland said the re-assessment of drink measures and strength would ensure that future health surveys reflected the nation's alcohol consumption more accurately, reflecting changes in what we drink and how. | NHS Health Scotland said the re-assessment of drink measures and strength would ensure that future health surveys reflected the nation's alcohol consumption more accurately, reflecting changes in what we drink and how. |
| The measurements of alcohol units were quantified 30 years ago. | The measurements of alcohol units were quantified 30 years ago. |
| Sonnda Catto, public health surveys manager at NHS Health Scotland and author of the report, said: "This review has changed our ideas about the scale of alcohol consumption in Scotland and it has already helped Scottish Government thinking in the development of its new alcohol strategy. | Sonnda Catto, public health surveys manager at NHS Health Scotland and author of the report, said: "This review has changed our ideas about the scale of alcohol consumption in Scotland and it has already helped Scottish Government thinking in the development of its new alcohol strategy. |
| "With drinks getting stronger and people becoming used to larger drink sizes, the alcohol challenge faced by Scotland appears to be more serious than we thought." | "With drinks getting stronger and people becoming used to larger drink sizes, the alcohol challenge faced by Scotland appears to be more serious than we thought." |
| The study warns that far fewer drinks could constitute binge drinking | The study warns that far fewer drinks could constitute binge drinking |
| To calculate how much people are drinking, surveys of alcohol consumption convert "drinks" into "units" of alcohol. | To calculate how much people are drinking, surveys of alcohol consumption convert "drinks" into "units" of alcohol. |
| They have classed a glass of wine as one unit, equivalent to 125ml at a strength of 8% | They have classed a glass of wine as one unit, equivalent to 125ml at a strength of 8% |
| But now, wines typically range from 11.5% to 14.5% in alcoholic strength and 175ml and 250ml glasses are more common in licensed premises. | But now, wines typically range from 11.5% to 14.5% in alcoholic strength and 175ml and 250ml glasses are more common in licensed premises. |
| At these strengths and sizes, a glass of wine would contain between 2.0 and 3.6 units of alcohol. | At these strengths and sizes, a glass of wine would contain between 2.0 and 3.6 units of alcohol. |
| At the same time a pint of normal strength beer has been classed as having two units of alcohol but many popular beers of this type now contain three units per pint. | At the same time a pint of normal strength beer has been classed as having two units of alcohol but many popular beers of this type now contain three units per pint. |
| The review also shows that what people are drinking at home has been substantially underestimated because people pour much bigger home measures. | The review also shows that what people are drinking at home has been substantially underestimated because people pour much bigger home measures. |
| Current health guidelines recommend that women avoid regularly drinking three or more units of alcohol a day. | Current health guidelines recommend that women avoid regularly drinking three or more units of alcohol a day. |
| Men are advised not to regularly drink four or more units a day. | Men are advised not to regularly drink four or more units a day. |
| The report shows that just one large glass of wine can take a woman over these levels and that two glasses could be a "binge". | The report shows that just one large glass of wine can take a woman over these levels and that two glasses could be a "binge". |
| Similarly, just one-and-a-half pints of beer at 5% could take a man over the recommended maximum for a day and two pints would be a "binge". | Similarly, just one-and-a-half pints of beer at 5% could take a man over the recommended maximum for a day and two pints would be a "binge". |
| This also has implications for drink-driving as people may be over the limit after just one drink. | This also has implications for drink-driving as people may be over the limit after just one drink. |