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Summary of FBDG recommendations for alcohol for the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
Due care was taken to ensure factually correct information. Food groupings and food group names differ across individual FBDGs; the ones used here are a compromise to present the information in a structured way. Qualitative and quantitative recommendations and description of portion sizes are presented as in source documents without further harmonisation. The original country FBDGs and the responsible national public health authorities remain the only qualified points of reference.
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| Belgium | - | - | - |
| Do not consume alcoholic beverages |
- If you consume alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation (1 beer; 1 glass of wine ; 50 ml of concentrated alcoholic drink.). - Consume alcoholic beverages slowly, together with food, prefer low-alcohol drinks. |
- | |
| Max. 20 g of alcohol for men and 10 g of alcohol for women | In moderation |
10 g of alcohol corresponds to 125 ml wine, 300 ml beer, or 40 ml spirits. |
|
| Cut down on alcohol | - | - | |
| Note: Find out more about the Danish Health Authority’s advice on alcohol at https://www.sst.dk/en/ | |||
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | Consume alcoholic drinks in moderation and not regularly | - | |
| Notes: Maximum tolerated daily dose of 10 g alcohol for women and 20 g alcohol for men. 20 g alcohol corresponds to ca. 500 ml beer, 250 ml wine, or 60 ml liquor. This should not be taken as an encouragement to regularly consume alcohol. | |||
| Low risk: ≤40 g male, ≤20 g female. Medium risk: 41-60 g male, 21-40 g female. High-risk: 61-100 g male, 41-60 g female. Very high risk: ≥101 g male, ≥61 g female. Min. 3 alcohol-free days/week. Max. 5% of daily kcal from alcohol. | Do not save up on daily intake to binge later | - | |
| Ireland | Weekly lower risk limits: 17 standard drinks (170 g alcohol over a week) for men, 11 standard drinks (110 g alcohol over a week) for women). |
- Alcohol is not needed for health. - Alcohol contains calories and may promote snacking. - Have 2–3 alcohol free days a week. |
Examples of one standard drink: ½ pint beer or lager, small glass of wine, single measure spirit. |
| Notes: Have 2-3 alcohol free days a week | |||
|
- 2 glasses of wine or two drinks per day for men. - 1 glass of wine or one drink per day for women. |
- If you consume alcohol, choose wine, preferably accompanied by meals. Limit consumption to 1 glass for women and 2 glasses for men. - If you don't drink wine, you may consume other alcoholic beverages, limiting consumption to 2 drinks for men and 1 drink for women. |
1 small (330 ml) beer, 4-5 % vol; 1 glass (125 ml) wine, 11% vol; 1 glass (40-45 ml) ouzo or other drink (i.e. whisky, gin, vodka, tequila), 40% vol. | |
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | |
| Note: The intake recommendation is being defined by Santé Publique France | |||
| - | - | - | |
|
- If you do not drink, keep it like that. If you do, limit consumption to the indicative tolerate amounts. - Indicative amounts: no more than 2 alcohol units per day for men, 1 unit for women. |
Consumption is not advised | 1 alcohol unit = 10 g ethanol (1 glass of wine, 1 bear can) | |
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| Max. 1 drink for women, 2 for men | Prefer red wine | - | |
| Do not consume alcoholic beverages, as their consumption is harmful to your health | - | - | |
| Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages | - | - | |
| - |
- Don't drink alcohol every day. - Choose wine and beer over spirits. - Alcohol does not contribute to fluid intake. |
- | |
| - | - | - | |
| - |
- If you opt to drink, limit your intake and have it with your meal. - Drink more slowly and alternate alcohol drinks with water. - Never drink and drive. |
One standard of drink is equivalent to 8 grams of alcohol. This equates to one small bottle of medium strength beer = 250 ml. A single shot of spirits such as whisky, gin, and vodka = 25 ml. A glass of red wine = 80 ml. A small glass of liqueur or aperitif = 40 ml. | |
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| Do not drink alcohol. If you drink, max. one glass daily. |
- Do not drink alcohol. - Binge drinking is harmful. |
Beer: 1 glass = 200 ml
Wine: 1 small glass = 100 ml Spirits: 1 glass = 50 ml |
|
| Note: No differences between type of alcohol | |||
| - | - | - | |
| Note: Alcohol is NOT recommended - there is no orientation number for "healthy" alcohol consumption | |||
| - | Do not drink alcohol | - | |
| Men: 3 small glasses of beer 5 %vol, 2 small glasses of wine 12 %vol, 1/3 glass of whiskey 40%vol. Women: 2 small glasses of beer 5 %vol, 1 small glass of wine 12 %vol, 1/5 glass of whiskey 40 %vol. |
- Consume in moderation. - Totally inadvisable for children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women. |
20 cl per glass of beer | |
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| Max. 1 unit for women and 2 for men | Drink alcohol in moderation or not at all | 500 ml beer, 150 ml wine, 50 ml liquor | |
| Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages | - | - | |
| - | Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol | - | |
| Up to 10 g for women and 20 g for men, i.e. one serving for women and 2 servings for men per day | Avoid binge drinking (over 5-6 doses) and no alcohol should be consumed daily | Glass (12 cl) of wine or a small bottle (33 cl) of medium beer or 4 cl of spirits | |
Country |
Quantitative recommendations |
Qualitative recommendations |
Portion size |
| Max. 10 g of alcohol per day for women and max. 20 g per day for men |
- Hold back on the amount of alcohol - Switch to alcohol-free or lower alcohol content beverages and store them in a smart way. |
A bottle of strong beer (33 cl) contains about 15 grams of alcohol. A glass of wine (15 cl) as well. | |
| - | - | - | |
| Note: Whilst the UK has alcohol recommendations these do not feature as part of the food based dietary guideline | |||
| Max 1 glass per day for women and 2 glasses for men |
- Consume alcohol in moderation and in small quantities. - No alcohol at all for children, adolescents, pregnant women. |
2-3 dl beer, 1 dl wine | |
| - | - | - | |
|
- No more than 10 g alcohol per day for women and 20 g for men. - Should not exceed 5% energy intake. |
- | - | |
| Originally Published | Last Updated | 07 Dec 2020 | 09 Aug 2023 |
| Knowledge service | Metadata | Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway | Food-Based Dietary Guidelines in Europe |
| Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET) | health policy |
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