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Getting the facts on draft about exactly what goes into your ale and stout.

The table below shows the calories, units and ABV of different ales.

What are the daily unit guidelines for ale & stout?

The government advises people not to regularly drink more than the daily unit guidelines of 3-4 units of alcohol for men (a pint and a half of John Smiths) and 2-3 units of alcohol for women (a pint of Guinness).

As you can see from the chart, two pints of strong ale or stout puts a man over the daily guidelines. One and a half pints of the same ale will put women over the guidelines too.

If you regularly drink over these guidelines you could be increasing your chances of developing long-term health conditions. Find out more about the effects of alcohol.

Check your ale and stout's ABV (alcohol by volume)

Checking an ale’s ABV (alcohol by volume) will give you a guide to how strong it us. The ABV tells you what percentage of the drink is made up of alcohol. For example, an ale with 5% ABV is 5% pure alcohol. The higher the percentage, the more alcohol is present.

A pint of strong ale has as many calories as one chocolate bar

Like other alcohol, ale can contain a lot of calories. For instance, a pint of strong ale can contain the same calories as a chocolate bar. Ale, like any kind of alcohol, can stimulate the appetite and make calorific post-pub fare like kebabs and chips look really appealing.

For more facts: find out if alcohol is making you fat and get the truth about beer bellies, love handles and moobs. 

Things you can do right now to reduce the amount of ale you are drinking

As you can see from the chart, two pints of strong ale can put you over the recommended guidelines for the day. To stay on track, try out some of these simple tips.

1.    Sink soft drinks between ales Drinking juice, cola or another soft option between drinks will help you stay hydrated and slow down the rate you’re drinking. Ale drinkers appreciate the unique flavours in each brew, so a glass of water can help cleanse the palette between different drinks.

2.    Look at the ABV The ABV, which you’ll usually find on the pump at the pub or on the side of the can or bottle, is your at-a-glance guide to an ale’s strength. Brands with higher ABVs have more alcohol, and more units – so think about choosing a half rather than a pint instead.

3.    Opt out of rounds Drinking in rounds means that you’re drinking at the speed of the fastest drinker, so you could be consuming your units faster than you’d like. Regain control, and maybe even save some cash, by buying your own drinks instead.

4.    Avoid drinking every day Give your body a good rest by making some nights each week alcohol-free. Not only will it mean you feel great in the morning – your liver will thank you for it too.

5.    Keep a drink diary If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will give you a great idea of whether you’re within the guidelines. MyDrinkaware is the perfect web-based tool for doing this. Discover some more practical ways to cut back on ale with our tips on cutting down.

Popular ale and stouts in the UK

• Boddingtons
• Caffrey’s
• Guinness
• John Smith’s
• McEwan’s Export
• Newcastle Brown
• Old Speckled Hen
• Stones
• Tetley’s Bitter
• Worthington

A potted history of… ale and stout

Ale is simple to brew and can be made from relatively few ingredients – which is probably the reason why we think it has been drunk around the world since at least 4000 BC. In fact, some historians believe that the earliest recorded recipe is for ale. When they first arrived on these shores the Romans noticed that native Britons drank it regularly – and today ale and stouts account for a quarter of beer volume sales in the UK (1).

Did you know?

There’s a reason why the smell of alcohol can linger the next day. Between two and five per cent of alcohol leaves the body through breath and sweat – hence the ‘eau de alcohol’ scent.

Fact or fantasy? Many hangover symptoms are caused by dehydration

Fact: If you drink too much, a lot of the pain you feel the next day is down to dehydration. Sipping water between drinks will help to keep you hydrated – and if you stick to the guidelines you won’t have to worry about a hangover anyway!

References

1.) http://store.mintel.com/ales-and-stouts-uk-may-2010.html