Two-thirds risk health by drinking everyday

Two thirds of people are putting their long-term health at risk by consuming alcohol each day as a way of winding down.

This is according to the charity Drinkaware, which surveyed more than 2,000 adults aged between 30 and 40 and found the a whopping 44 per cent drank each day after work to wash away stresses and strains.

A third of that number even admitted to thinking about drinking before they even got home.

Drinkaware warned that alcohol may appear to alleviate stress, it can make things much worse in the longer term.

Asked about their drinking habits, a third of men said that they consume above their daily limit when they drink at home, while the figure was above half for women.

The daily recommended limit for males is three to four units while for ladies it is two to three.

Some 68 per cent said that they have alcohol stored at home and 71 per cent said that they regularly buy booze as part of their weekly grocery shopping.

A third admitted to drinking while watching TV in the evenings, while 25 per cent said that they had alcohol as an accompaniment to their evening meal.

Siobhan McCann, head of campaigns and communications at Drinkaware, said: "Alcohol can be a 'false friend' when you are trying to deal with stress.

"Even though it might seem like a few drinks can relieve the pressures of the day, in the medium to long term it can actually add to them - whether they're work, financial or family-related.

"Stress can also be an excuse for people to drink more than they should, especially if they don't realise the negative impact it can have on their health and well-being."

Researcher from the University of Oxford said recently that cutting down alcohol consumption could save around 4,600 lives in the UK each year.