Breast cancer link with how much you drink

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There's a lot of talk in the media right now about the effects of alcohol. We help you understand what the real risks are

Most women are aware of risks to the liver associated with alcohol but less than 1 in 5 women realise that it's also linked to breast cancer.

Following a government survey of 2,000 people, it's estimated that 4 million UK women drink too much. If you're drinking a large glass of wine each day (the equivalent of 3 units), then you're also increasing your risk of breast cancer by a fifth. Make that 2 glasses and the risk increase to more than a third. Three glasses a day and you're actually doubling your risk!

While it's true that women drink more alcohol than ever, singles are actually less likely to have a drink every day than couples. Apparently, couples in their 30s are most likely to polish off a bottle of wine each night.

So you could potentially be having at least 3 units a day without realising. When you consider the recommended weekly guideline for women is 14 units, you may be drinking a third more than you should be.

If you're trying to work out how much to drink, it's a good idea to use the following as a rule of thumb:

1 x large glass of wine = 3 units
1 x pint of beer = 2.8 units
1 x glass of spirits = 2 units

Sources: Daily Mail, The Metro, BBC