hazardous drinking
Last reviewed 01/2018
Hazardous drinking
Also termed "risky drinking", hazardous drinking is a pattern of alcohol consumption that increases someone's risk of harm
- some would limit this definition to the physical or mental health consequences (as in harmful use). Others would include the social consequences
- this is not a current diagnostic term within ICD-10 but it continues to be used by WHO in its public health programme
Hazardous drinking applies to anyone drinking over recommended limits (21 units a week for men or 14 units a week for women) but without alcohol-related problems (1,2).
- in 2008, 21% of adult men were drinking between 22 and 50 units per week, and 15% of adult women were drinking between 15 and 35 units (1)
Reference:
- (1) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2011. Alcohol-Use Disorders: Diagnosis, Assessment and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence
- (2) The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) 2006. Review of the Effectiveness of Treatment for Alcohol Problems
interventions for harmful, hazardous drinkers & mild alcohol dependence