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Page | Last updated: 18 Jan 2024

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines recommendations for alcohol

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

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---
BulgariaDo 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.

-
Czechia-If you drink alcoholic beverages, do not exceed the daily intake of alcohol for men of 20 g (200 ml of wine, 0.5 1 beer, 50 ml of spirits), for women half the amount.--

Country

Quantitative recommendations

Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

DenmarkCut down on alcohol--
Note: Find out more about the Danish Health Authority’s advice on alcohol at https://www.sst.dk/en/
Germany-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.
EstoniaLow 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-

Country

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Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

IrelandWeekly 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
Greece

- 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.
Spain---

Country

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France---
Note: The intake recommendation is being defined by Santé Publique France
Croatia---
Italy

- 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 advised1 alcohol unit = 10 g ethanol (1 glass of wine, 1 bear can)

Country

Quantitative recommendations

Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

CyprusMax. 1 drink for women, 2 for menPrefer red wine-
LatviaDo not consume alcoholic beverages, as their consumption is harmful to your health--
LithuaniaAvoid consuming alcoholic beverages--

Country

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Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

Luxembourg
For healthy adults, low-risk alcohol consumption means not drinking more than:
- 1 glass of beer (25cl) or wine (10cl) per day for women.
- 2 glasses of beer (25cl) or wine (10cl) per day for men.
Alcoholic beverages are classed as "extras".
To avoid becoming alcohol-dependent, it is recommended that you have 2 or 3 alcohol-free days each week.
-
Hungary---
Malta-

- 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

NetherlandsDo 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
Austria---
Note: Alcohol is NOT recommended - there is no orientation number for "healthy" alcohol consumption
Poland-Do not drink alcohol-

Country

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Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

PortugalMen: 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
RomaniaMax. 1 unit for women and 2 for menDrink alcohol in moderation or not at all500 ml beer, 150 ml wine, 50 ml liquor
SloveniaAvoid drinking alcoholic beverages--

Country

Quantitative recommendations

Qualitative recommendations

Portion size

Slovakia-Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol-
FinlandUp to 10 g for women and 20 g for men, i.e. one serving for women and 2 servings for men per dayAvoid binge drinking (over 5-6 doses) and no alcohol should be consumed dailyGlass (12 cl) of wine or a small bottle (33 cl) of medium beer or 4 cl of spirits
SwedenMax. 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.

Country

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Portion size

United Kingdom---
Note: Whilst the UK has alcohol recommendations these do not feature as part of the food based dietary guideline
SwitzerlandMax 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
Iceland---
Norway

- No more than 10 g alcohol per day for women and 20 g for men.

- Should not exceed 5% energy intake.

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