A HUDDERSFIELD alcohol support service has suggested that the Government’s new drinking guidelines are “unrealistic”

And director of Alcohol Support Kirklees Alan Walker, who said he feared that drinkers will ignore the guidance, has urged experts to consider increasing the suggested limits.

He said: “The Government has set guidelines of 21 units of alcohol a week for men and 14 for women.

“But its guidelines are unrealistic as people who are actually drinking would think nothing of 21 units in a week. The figure is too low to make them pay attention.

“Having dealt with drinkers and people addicted to alcohol for the past 15 years, someone who is regularly having four pints of ordinary beer is more likely to think that they might have a problem.

“I would suggest doubling the suggested guidelines from three to four units per day for men to six to eight per day.

“And for women doubling the suggested amount from two to three units per day to four to six units.

“People who are drinking two to three units a day are not problem drinkers and this is not what the Government need to address.

“People who drink in excess know exactly what they are doing, they are trying to escape from problems or stress.

“I don’t know if the Government is trying to scare people but my experience has shown that drinkers will ignore the guidelines as they will just think ‘this doesn’t apply to me’, I already drink more than that.”

Mr Walker’s concern came after a committee of MPs said that drinkers should give themselves two alcohol free days a week.

The Commons’ Science and Technology Committee believed abstaining from alcohol at least twice a week would help people’s health.

Mr Walker used to be a heavy drinker himself before he became a director of Kirklees Alcohol Support Service – where he saw around 1,200 drinkers per year.

He founded ASK as he believed people needed a rational recovery organisation to provide non-religious effective help to all those suffering directly or indirectly through alcohol abuse.

Mr Walker, who works on a one-on-one basis, said: “What I think would help was if there were more consequences or if people knew about the consequences of drinking.

“The Asbos and the laws against street drinkers in the town centre are just some of the consequences they can face.

“In the USA, drunk people are put in a drunk tank as of an evening. It is humiliating for them to go there and perhaps we should operate something similar in the UK, it is a serious consequence of excessive alcohol.”

If you think you may be drinking more than average, get in touch with Alan for a one on one session or visit www.alcoholsupport.com