Alcohol, smoking and vaping

Alcohol can raise your risk of breast cancer, even if you drink only a little. NIAAA says there’s no amount that is guaranteed safe for anyone. It advises people who don’t drink not to start for health reasons. You can ask for help to drink less without having to call yourself anything.

What UK and US alcohol guidance says

In the UK, the NHS advises men and women not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. If you regularly drink that much, spread it over 3 or more days. The NHS also suggests having several days without alcohol when you’re trying to cut down.

A UK unit measures pure alcohol. A glass or bottle can hold different amounts. The number of units depends on both the size of the drink and how strong it is. When you talk to a clinician about drinking, describe the drink, its strength and how much you pour.

This US advice changed recently. HHS released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. Its current public summary advises drinking less alcohol for better overall health. NIAAA describes the advice in the same way. This is different from the UK’s weekly number.

The UK weekly amount aims to keep your risk low, but it can’t guarantee safety. The link with breast cancer still matters below it. If you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant, NIAAA advises not drinking at all. The general advice for adults doesn’t apply in pregnancy.

Check withdrawal risk before stopping

If your body has come to depend on alcohol, stopping overnight can be harmful. Anxiety after waking, sweating, shaking, feeling sick in the morning or vomiting can be signs of withdrawal.

Contact your GP today (UK), or your doctor or an urgent care service (US or elsewhere), if cutting down on alcohol causes sweating, shaking, feeling sick in the morning or anxiety. Get medical advice before you try to stop suddenly.

Call 999 now (UK) or 911 (US), or your local emergency number, if stopping or cutting down on alcohol makes you see or hear things that aren’t there, or causes severe shaking or seizures (fits).

Support for stopping smoking

Quitting smoking improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer and lung disease. CDC says it’s never too late to quit. If you’ve tried before and it didn’t work out, you can ask for support again.

In the UK, a local Stop Smoking Service can give you advice on quitting, including on vaping. In the US, CDC lists phone quitlines and help with making a plan to quit. Ask a pharmacist or doctor about medicines that can help. Tell them if you’re pregnant or have other health worries before choosing a treatment.

Where vaping advice differs

The NHS says nicotine vaping is less harmful than smoking and can help people quit. Vaping still has risks, and its long-term effects aren’t fully known yet. To get the full benefit of switching, the NHS advises stopping smoking completely.

CDC says no tobacco products are safe, including e-cigarettes. It accepts there may be a benefit for adults who smoke and aren’t pregnant, if vaping fully replaces smoking. Using cigarettes and vapes together isn’t a good way to protect your health.

In pregnancy, the NHS recommends licensed nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum, to help you quit. It also says vaping is likely to be less harmful than smoking. CDC advises against e-cigarettes in pregnancy. Talk about your options with your midwife, doctor or stop-smoking adviser. The NHS advises children and people who don’t smoke never to vape.

Nicotine is addictive. CDC describes signs such as cravings, finding it hard to stop and needing more to get the same effect. When someone stops nicotine, they may for a while feel irritable or restless, or have trouble sleeping or concentrating. These are withdrawal symptoms. Talk about them with a quitting adviser as you make a plan. Ask for help with the parts you find hardest, including the habits around smoking as well as the cravings.

Ask for help with drinking

Book a GP appointment in the UK, or see your doctor elsewhere, if your drinking feels hard to control or is causing problems. NHS care can include a check-up and local support services for alcohol. Be clear about what’s happening: how much you drink, whether it’s hard to cut down, or any symptoms when you try.