It's official: We all drink a third more than we thought

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Dramatic new figures reveal households are consuming a third more alcohol than previously thought.

The proportion of women drinking more than 35 units a week has trebled.

For the first time officials have calculated the true amount of alcohol in "New World" wines and huge pub measures.

It means a glass of wine now counts as two units instead of one and puts millions in a new category of "danger drinkers".

Government data expert Eileen Goddard said: "These rises are breathtaking. It doesn't mean that people are drinking more but it means we have been dramatically underestimating the volume that women and the middle classes are consuming."

According to the new figures almost a third of men are drinking more than the safe guideline of 21 units a week - up from 24 per cent using the old yardstick. At least 21 per cent of women are consuming more than the safe level for them of 14 units - up from 13 per cent before. But the data also reveals that six per cent are knocking back more than 35 units a week - more than three bottles of red wine.

Frank Soodeen of Alcohol Concern said: "We have to do far more to improve awareness of unit counting, otherwise, the recommended limits become meaningless for the large numbers of people who do want to drink sensibly."