Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol doesn't often cause any problems, however, drinking too much can be harmful. The Department of Health advises that men should not drink more than three to four units of alcohol per day, and women should drink no more than two to three units of alcohol per day.

You can work out how many units you drank during a night out, how much you spent, the calorie equivalent in food and how long it would take the alcohol to leave your system using the BBC Newsbeat drinks calculator.

One unit of alcohol is equivalent to 10ml of pure alcohol. As a rough guide:

• 1 pint of strong lager = 3 units
• 1 pint of ordinary lager, bitter or cider, 175ml glass of wine = 2 units
• 1 alcopop = 1.5 units
• 1 measure of spirits  = 1 unit
• Some wines are around 11 or 12 per cent alcohol, a small glass of those = 1.5 units. 

Lagers and ciders sold in bottles are usually stronger than those sold on draught. You can find out exactly how many units of alcohol are in the bottle by reading the label. 

• Calculate your alcohol units

On average, the body can break down alcohol at a rate of one unit per hour (depending on your weight, sex, age, metabolism, stress levels, amount of food eaten, medication taken and type of alcohol consumed).

If you get drunk, avoid alcohol for 48 hours afterwards to give your body time to recover.

Do not drink if a doctor or other health professional advises you to cut down, or to stop drinking, or, for example:

• before or when operating machinery and equipment
• using electrical equipment
• taking part in active sport
• you are trying to become pregnant
• you are pregnant

The abuse of alcohol can lead to a wide range of health problems. In the short term it may cause you to experience drowsiness, tension, dehydration, unconsciousness or even death. In the long term, it is known to contribute to more serious health problems, including liver damage, cancer and heart disease.

• More health risks linked to excessive drinking

The UK legal limit is 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - as a rough guide this means men should consume no more than four units of alcohol, and women no more than three units, before driving. Still, there is no fail-safe guide as to how much you can drink and stay under the limit. The only safe way to avoid a fatal accident, driving ban and/or large fine is not to drink if you plan to drive.

• Penalties for drink-driving - The Highway Code  

Police can ‘breathalyse’ you if they suspect you’ve been drinking too much before driving. This test estimates the concentration of alcohol in the blood. If you fail the test, you will be charged and the breath test will be stored as evidence. Failure to give a breath test is an offence

Anti-social behaviour arising from binge drinking, i.e. drinking large quantities in a short space of time, has meant some towns and cities have now designated places where drinking alcohol is not allowed. If you are caught drinking in these areas you may be liable for a £50 fixed penalty. Should you be found guilty of being drunk and disorderly in a public place you may not only be liable for a fixed penalty of £80 but you could receive an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO). 

• More about anti-social behaviour  

You don't have to be an alcoholic to be drinking over a safe limit. With this in mind the NHS has developed a free and confidential online Down Your Drink programme. It tells drinkers what they need to know to become a 'thinking drinker'. 

• More about the Down Your Drink programme  

Along with your local doctor, there are local support organisations like Alcoholics Anonymous that may be able to refer you to structured treatment, such as rehabilitation or detox.

If you need to talk to someone, the free and confidential helpline Drinkline 0800 917 8282 can provide you with advice and information.

Alcohol Concern also produces a series of factsheets with information and guidance that you may find useful. 

• Support organisations and their contact details
• Find your local alcohol support services  
• Factsheets on the Alcohol Concern website

• Alcohol: the effects and risks, including real people's stories  
• More information on responsible drinking