Alcohol Units - Revision history

Paul Herring: /* Daily/Weekly limits */

2014-11-05T21:16:51Z

Daily/Weekly limits

Paul Herring: /* Daily/Weekly limits */

2012-07-03T20:45:03Z

Daily/Weekly limits

PJH: /* Daily/Weekly limits */

2012-05-31T14:46:12Z

Daily/Weekly limits

Paul Herring at 07:53, 27 March 2012

2012-03-27T07:53:53Z

Paul Herring at 22:31, 26 March 2012

2012-03-26T22:31:34Z

Paul Herring at 22:13, 26 March 2012

2012-03-26T22:13:38Z

Paul Herring at 20:32, 26 March 2012

2012-03-26T20:32:33Z

Paul Herring: Created page with "==Definition== The definition of 'a unit of alcohol' differs depending on which country is being talked about. === United Kingdom === One unit of alcohol is defined as cont..."

2012-03-26T19:54:04Z

Created page with "==Definition== The definition of 'a unit of alcohol' differs depending on which country is being talked about. === United Kingdom === One unit of alcohol is defined as cont..."

New page

==Definition==

The definition of 'a unit of alcohol' differs depending on which country is being talked about.

=== United Kingdom ===

One unit of alcohol is defined as containing 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol; the amount of alcohol the average adult can process within an hour<ref>http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/health/guide-to-alcohol-units-and-measures</ref>. This equates to:
* 1 unit per percentage point abv in one litre of drink
* Approximately a half (imperial) pint (284ml) of 3.5% abv drink (0.994 units)
* 83.¯3ml of 12% abv wine (175ml=2.1 units, 250ml=3 units)
* 25ml measure of 40% abv spirit

=== United States ===
f
A standard drink is defined as containing 0.6 fluid ounce (17.05ml) or 14.0g of pure alcohol<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#standDrink</ref>. This equates to
* 12-ounces of 5% abv beer.
* 8-ounces of 7.5% abv malt
* 5-ounces of 12% abv wine.
* 1.5-ounces (44.3ml) or a “shot” of 40% abv distilled spirits or liquor.

== Australia ==

A standard drink is defined as containing 12.5ml or 10g<ref>http://www.health.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/standard</ref> of pure alcohol. This equates to
* 375 ml bottle or can of 3.¯3% lager/beer.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

@@ Line 129: / Line 129: @@
 Controversially, however, [[Richard Smith]], former editor of the [[British Medical Journal]] and a member of the [[Royal College of Physicians]], which came up with the UK report from a committee of doctors in 1987, which set out weekly limits of 21 units(168g) for men, and 14(98) units for women, has admitted that the weekly limits were essentially "plucked out of thin air.":
 {{quote|[Richard Smith] recalled that the committee could find "no decent data" on the subject, but felt obliged to make a recommendation nonetheless.
-: He said: "They weren't really based on any firm evidence at all. It was a sort of intelligent guess by a committee." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8656565/Safe-drinking-limits-to-be-reviewed.html</ref>}}
+: He said: "They weren't really based on any firm evidence at all. It was a sort of intelligent guess by a committee." <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8656565/Safe-drinking-limits-to-be-reviewed.html Safe drinking limits to be reviewed] - The Telegraph</ref>}}
 And from Richard's own blog
-{{quote|Kristin Wolfe, head of alcohol policy at SAB Miller, one of the world’s largest brewers, said that 80-90% of people are responsible drinkers and that the harm results from the other 10-20%. She accepted that people should be given information on safe limits, but she pointed out that there is considerable variation in advice around the world: in Australia the advised limit is 20 grams a day, whereas in Portugal its 37 grams; in the US a unit  is 14 grams, contrasting with the 8 grams in Britain.<ref>http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/11/14/richard-smith-battling-over-safe-alcohol-limits/</ref>}}
+{{quote|Kristin Wolfe, head of alcohol policy at SAB Miller, one of the world’s largest brewers, said that 80-90% of people are responsible drinkers and that the harm results from the other 10-20%. She accepted that people should be given information on safe limits, but she pointed out that there is considerable variation in advice around the world: in Australia the advised limit is 20 grams a day, whereas in Portugal its 37 grams; in the US a unit  is 14 grams, contrasting with the 8 grams in Britain.<ref>[http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/11/14/richard-smith-battling-over-safe-alcohol-limits/ Richard Smith: Battling over safe alcohol limits] - The BMJ</ref>}}
 More recently, [[Oxford University]] have produced a report recommending that the daily limit be reduced to 1/2 a (UK) unit a day (about 1/2 pint beer):
@@ Line 145: / Line 147: @@
 "[...] A couple of pints or a couple of glasses of wine per day is not a healthy option.
-"We are not telling people what to do[...]<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9299468/Sticking-to-a-quarter-pint-of-beer-a-day-would-save-thousands-of-lives-research.html</ref>}}
+"We are not telling people what to do[...]<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9299468/Sticking-to-a-quarter-pint-of-beer-a-day-would-save-thousands-of-lives-research.html Sticking to a quarter pint of beer a day would save thousands of lives: research] - The Telegraph</ref>}}
 ==References==

@@ Line 127: / Line 127: @@
 == Daily/Weekly limits ==
-Controversially, however, Richard Smith, former editor of the British Medical Journal and a member of the Royal College of Physicians, which came up with the UK report from a committee of doctors in 1987, which set out weekly limits of 21 units(168g) for men, and 14(98) units for women, has admitted that the weekly limits were essentially "plucked out of thin air.":
+Controversially, however, [[Richard Smith]], former editor of the [[British Medical Journal]] and a member of the [[Royal College of Physicians]], which came up with the UK report from a committee of doctors in 1987, which set out weekly limits of 21 units(168g) for men, and 14(98) units for women, has admitted that the weekly limits were essentially "plucked out of thin air.":
 {{quote|[Richard Smith] recalled that the committee could find "no decent data" on the subject, but felt obliged to make a recommendation nonetheless.
 : He said: "They weren't really based on any firm evidence at all. It was a sort of intelligent guess by a committee." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8656565/Safe-drinking-limits-to-be-reviewed.html</ref>}}
@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 {{quote|Kristin Wolfe, head of alcohol policy at SAB Miller, one of the world’s largest brewers, said that 80-90% of people are responsible drinkers and that the harm results from the other 10-20%. She accepted that people should be given information on safe limits, but she pointed out that there is considerable variation in advice around the world: in Australia the advised limit is 20 grams a day, whereas in Portugal its 37 grams; in the US a unit  is 14 grams, contrasting with the 8 grams in Britain.<ref>http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/11/14/richard-smith-battling-over-safe-alcohol-limits/</ref>}}
-More recently, Oxford University have produced a report recommending that the daily limit be reduced to 1/2 a (UK) unit a day (about 1/2 pint beer):
+More recently, [[Oxford University]] have produced a report recommending that the daily limit be reduced to 1/2 a (UK) unit a day (about 1/2 pint beer):
-{{quote|An Oxford University study found that the beneficial effects of alcohol have been exaggerated and thousands of deaths from cancer and liver cirrhosis could be prevented.
+{{quote|An [[Oxford University]] study found that the beneficial effects of alcohol have been exaggerated and thousands of deaths from cancer and liver cirrhosis could be prevented.
 [...]

@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 Controversially, however, Richard Smith, former editor of the British Medical Journal and a member of the Royal College of Physicians, which came up with the UK report from a committee of doctors in 1987, which set out weekly limits of 21 units(168g) for men, and 14(98) units for women, has admitted that the weekly limits were essentially "plucked out of thin air.":
-: [Richard Smith] recalled that the committee could find "no decent data" on the subject, but felt obliged to make a recommendation nonetheless.
+{{quote|[Richard Smith] recalled that the committee could find "no decent data" on the subject, but felt obliged to make a recommendation nonetheless.
-: He said: "They weren't really based on any firm evidence at all. It was a sort of intelligent guess by a committee." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8656565/Safe-drinking-limits-to-be-reviewed.html</ref>
+: He said: "They weren't really based on any firm evidence at all. It was a sort of intelligent guess by a committee." <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8656565/Safe-drinking-limits-to-be-reviewed.html</ref>}}
-And from Richard's own blog"
+And from Richard's own blog
-:Kristin Wolfe, head of alcohol policy at SAB Miller, one of the world’s largest brewers, said that 80-90% of people are responsible drinkers and that the harm results from the other 10-20%. She accepted that people should be given information on safe limits, but she pointed out that there is considerable variation in advice around the world: in Australia the advised limit is 20 grams a day, whereas in Portugal its 37 grams; in the US a unit  is 14 grams, contrasting with the 8 grams in Britain.<ref>http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/11/14/richard-smith-battling-over-safe-alcohol-limits/</ref>
+{{quote|Kristin Wolfe, head of alcohol policy at SAB Miller, one of the world’s largest brewers, said that 80-90% of people are responsible drinkers and that the harm results from the other 10-20%. She accepted that people should be given information on safe limits, but she pointed out that there is considerable variation in advice around the world: in Australia the advised limit is 20 grams a day, whereas in Portugal its 37 grams; in the US a unit  is 14 grams, contrasting with the 8 grams in Britain.<ref>http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2011/11/14/richard-smith-battling-over-safe-alcohol-limits/</ref>}}
 ==References==

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:53, 27 March 2012
Line 138:		Line 138:
	==References==		==References==
	{{Reflist}}		{{Reflist}}
		+
		+	[[Category:Alcohol]]

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 === World ===
-From Wikipedia<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_drink#Standard_drinks_as_defined_by_various_countries</ref> The amount of alcohol is stated in the table in both grams and millilitres. The number of standard drinks contained in 500ml of beer of 5% ABV (a typical large drink of beer) is stated for comparison
+Based on data from Sensible Drinking[http://www.drinkingandyou.com/site/pdf/SENSIBLE%2520DRINKING.pdf] the amount of alcohol is stated in the table in both grams and millilitres. The number of standard drinks contained in 500ml of beer of 5% ABV (a typical large drink of beer) is stated for comparison, along with daily and weekly limits, where data is available. Blank cells indicate either no guidelines given, or no data available.
 {|  class="wikitable sortable"
 |-
-! Country !! Mass (g) !! Volume (ml) || 500 ml beer contains
+! scope="col" |'''Country'''
 |-
-| Australia<ref>Population Health Division, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing [http://www.alcohol.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/standard The Australian Standard Drink]</ref> || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Argentina||||||||||||||
 |-
-| Austria || 6 || 7.62 || 3.2&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Australia||10||12.67||1.97||20<ref>http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/ds10-alcoholqa.pdf</ref>||20||||
 |-
-| Canada<ref>Canadian Public Health Association. drinkingfacts.ca. URL: [http://www.drinkingfacts.ca/english/downloads/facts.pdf http://www.drinkingfacts.ca/english/downloads/facts.pdf]. Accessed on: October 10, 2007.</ref> || 13.5 || 17.1 || 1.5 s.drinks
+| Austria ||10||12.67||1.97||24||16||||
 |-
-| Denmark || 12 || 15.2 || 1.6&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Belgium||||||||||||||
 |-
-| Finland<ref> paihdelinkki.fi, [http://www.paihdelinkki.fi/articles/224-how-to-use-alcohol-wisely How to use alcohol wisely]</ref> || 12 || 15.2 || 1.6&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Canada||13.6||17.24||1.45||41||27.2||204||136
 |-
-| France || 12 || 15.2 || 1.6&nbsp;s.drinks
+| China||||||||||||||
 |-
-| Hungary || 17 || 21.5 || 1.2&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Czech Republic||||||||24||16||||
 |-
-| Iceland<ref> Landlæknisembættið, Icelandic Directorate of Health [http://www.landlaeknir.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=3370]</ref> || 8 || 10 || 2.5&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Denmark ||12||15.21||1.64||||||252||168
 |-
-| Ireland || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Finland||11||13.94||1.79||||||165||110
 |-
-| Italy || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| France ||10||12.67||1.97||30||20||||
 |-
-| Japan || 19.75 || 25 || 1.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Germany||||||||24||16||120||80
 |-
-| Netherlands || 9.9 || 12.5 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Greece||10||12.67||1.97||30||20||||
 |-
-| New Zealand<ref>New Zealand Food Safety Authority [http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consumers/food-safety-topics/food-processing-labelling/food-labelling/fact-sheets/fs-2003-04-alcohol-labelling.htm]</ref> || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Hungary ||17||21.55||1.16||||||||
 |-
-| Poland || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Iceland||||||||||||||
 |-
-| Portugal || 14 || 17.7 || 1.4&nbsp;s.drinks
+| India||||||||||||||
 |-
-| Spain || 10 || 12.7 || 2.0&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Ireland ||10||12.67||1.97||40||30||210||140
 |-
-| UK<ref>http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/alcohol-and-you/health/guide-to-alcohol-units-and-measures</ref> || 7.9 || 10 || 2.5&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Italy ||12||15.21||1.64||36||24||||
 |-
-| USA<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#standDrink |title=Alcohol and Public Health:  Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=CDC |accessdate=2011-10-17 }}</ref> || 14 || 17.7 || 1.4&nbsp;s.drinks
+| Japan ||19.75||25.03||1.00||39.5||||||
 |}
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Definition==
-The definition of 'a unit of alcohol' differs depending on which country is being talked about.
+The definition of 'a unit of alcohol' differs depending on which country is being talked about. For example:
 === United Kingdom ===
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 === United States ===
-−
 A standard drink is defined as containing 0.6 fluid ounce (17.05ml) or 14.0g of pure alcohol<ref>http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/faqs.htm#standDrink</ref>. This equates to
 * 12-ounces of 5% abv beer.
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 * 1.5-ounces (44.3ml) or a “shot” of 40% abv distilled spirits or liquor.
-== Australia ==
+=== Australia ===
 A standard drink is defined as containing 12.5ml or 10g<ref>http://www.health.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/standard</ref> of pure alcohol. This equates to
-* 375 ml bottle or can of 3.¯3% lager/beer.
+* 375 ml bottle or can of 3.¯3% abv lager/beer.
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}