Health risks as holidaymakers hit the booze

Holidaymakers had an average of nine alcoholic drinks on every day of their summer break a new survey has revealed.

The study — part of the Know Your Limits campaign — showed that a third of holidaymakers admitted to drinking three times their normal amount on holiday.

A typical break for a North-West holidaymaker lasts for nine days which means 81 alcoholic drinks in total.

There are 229 units in 81 pints of lager and 243 units in 81 glasses of wine — much higher than the recommended limit of three units a day for women and four units for men.

Many people also change their drinking habits when on holiday with cocktails and shots being favourites.

A fifth of people told the survey they would take two days off drinking each week while 15 per cent said they would have a completely dry month when they got home.

Public Health Minister, Gillian Merron said: “It’s all too easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much on holiday. And it’s always hard to get back into a normal routine. But we should try to use September as the new January and make a pledge to be a little more healthy.

“Our survey showed that people across the country will be making a fresh start this September and are thinking about how they can change their drinking habits to get healthier.

“Sticking within the NHS’s recommended daily limits means you reduce your risk of serious conditions such as liver disease, cancer and stroke.”

Over ten million adults in England regularly exceed the recommended daily limits affecting their general day to day health.