The science of two alcohol free days per week

Health officials in several countries, including the UK, have advocated for people to have at least two alcohol free days per week. The UK government’s new proposal on alcohol guidelines says drinkers should have ‘several’ alcohol free days weekly.

But, how useful is this advice? And do the days need to be consecutive?

I believe advice that everyone should have at least two alcohol free days a week is a well-intentioned effort to combat the enormous adverse impact that alcohol has on some individuals’ health and well-being.

The question, of course, is whether that strategy will be effective in reducing the well-known damages of excessive drinking to individuals and society: liver disease, neurologic problems, socially unacceptable behaviour, and driving under the influence, to name just a few.