Alcohol misuse means drinking excessively – more than the recommended limits of alcohol consumption.
Alcohol consumption is measured in units. A unit of alcohol is 10ml of pure alcohol, which is about:
- Half a pint of normal-strength lager
- A single measure (25ml) of spirits
- A small glass (125ml) of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol.
Download the Alcohol – What do I need to know? leaflet
Am I drinking too much alcohol?
You could be misusing alcohol if:
- you feel you should cut down on your drinking
- other people have been criticising your drinking
- you feel guilty or bad about your drinking
- you need a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover
Someone you know may be misusing alcohol if:
- they regularly exceed the lower-risk daily limit for alcohol
- they’re sometimes unable to remember what happened the night before because of their drinking
- they fail to do what was expected of them as a result of their drinking – for example, missing an appointment or work because of being drunk or hungover
