Government slashes alcohol intake for men to six glasses of wine a WEEK - and doctors fear the amount is still unsafe for women

New alcohol guidelines could encourage women to drink at unsafe levels, doctors have warned.

The government’s recommendations say both men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week – equivalent to six or seven glasses of wine.

This is a change from existing guidelines which state while women should stick to 14, men can have as much as 21 units a week.

Now clinicians have intervened to say equalising the upper limits could give women the ‘false impression’ they can safely drink as much as men – putting their health at risk. 

The guidelines were first published in draft form in January, and were instantly subjected to a barrage of criticism over a claim there is no safe level of drinking at all.

While the final form of the guidelines retains the claim there is no safe drinking level, its language has been toned down to make it clear there is nothing wrong in enjoying the occasional tipple.

Ministers were angry earlier this year when Dame Sally Davies, England’s chief medical officer, called for people to consider the risk of getting cancer every time they want a glass of wine.

The recommendations now state that ‘for many, alcohol is a part of their social life’, and the rules are not meant to ‘prevent those who wish to drink from doing so’.

They also make it clear the risks of drinking are no higher than other everyday activities such as driving a car.