Alcohol can act as a social lubricant and a reason for people to get together, helping conversation and enjoyment flow. But the truth is – even small amount of alcohol is dangerous for your health.

New public health advice says there is no ‘safe’ alcohol limit as even small amounts can increase the risk of some cancers. 

It says people who drink regularly should consume no more than 14 units a week - the equivalent of six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine. Which means for the first time the limits are the same for men as for women.

It also says if people drink, it should be moderately over three or more days, and we should keep some days alcohol-free. And it warns us against saving up our units and downing them in one or two goes, because this qualifies as heavy drinking – so think again if you like a heavy splurge on a Friday and Saturday night.

There are new studies debunking previous research linking moderate consumption with a range of health benefits, particularly reduced heart risk. One huge UK-based population study published last year showed simply comparing alcohol consumption with health outcomes gave a clear protective benefit from moderate drinking. But once former drinkers were taken out of the non-drinking group, these supposed benefits all but disappeared.

The unpalatable truth is that alcohol contributes to more than 60 medical conditions, including many cancers, high blood pressure, liver cirrhosis and depression. 

Between four and 30 per cent of cancer deaths worldwide could come down to alcohol use - eight per cent for the commonest of these, breast cancer.

Crucially even moderate drinking increases our risk. Even one glass a day increases the risk of breast cancer by four per cent, while heavy drinking - three or more drinks a day - increases it by a whopping 40-50 per cent.