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Questions and answers about new UK drinking guidelines

FILE - In this Monday, March 16, 2009 file photo, a man walks by a wines and spirits shop in central London. British health officials say that drinking any alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer, in tough new guidelines that could be hard to swallow for a nation where having a pint is a hallowed tradition. In recommendations released on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advised both men and women not to drink any more than 14 units of alcohol, or about six pints of beer a week _ that still carries a low risk of liver disease or cancer. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)
FILE - In this Monday, March 16, 2009 file photo, a man walks by a wines and spirits shop in central London. British health officials say that drinking any alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer, in tough new guidelines that could be hard to swallow for a nation where having a pint is a hallowed tradition. In recommendations released on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advised both men and women not to drink any more than 14 units of alcohol, or about six pints of beer a week _ that still carries a low risk of liver disease or cancer. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File) FILE - In this Monday, March 16, 2009 file photo, a man walks by a wines and spirits shop in central London. British health officials say that drinking any alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer, in tough new guidelines that could be hard to swallow for a nation where having a pint is a hallowed tradition. In recommendations released on Friday, Jan. 8, 2016, Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advised both men and women not to drink any more than 14 units of alcohol, or about six pints of beer a week _ that still carries a low risk of liver disease or cancer. (AP Photo/Sang Tan, File)

By Associated Press 4 min read

LONDON (AP) – British health officials say drinking any alcohol regularly increases the risk of cancer, and have issued tough new guidelines that could be hard to swallow in a nation where having a pint is a hallowed tradition.

In recommendations released Friday, Britain’s Chief Medical Officer advised both men and women not to drink any more than 14 units of alcohol – about six pints of beer or about four large glasses of wine – a week and said even that still carries a low risk of liver disease or cancer.

Alcohol is a known carcinogen; in the U.S., experts estimate it causes about 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths. People who have more than about four drinks a day have up to a three-fold greater risk of cancers of the head and neck than non-drinkers.

Here are some questions and answers about the new guidelines and their likely effect:

WHAT’S NEW?