It may seem like a treat at the end of the day.
But Britain’s ‘wine o’clock’ culture may be partly responsible for an alarming trend that has seen deaths from chronic liver disease rise fivefold since the 1970s.
Liver cirrhosis – scarring caused by ongoing, long-term liver damage – stroke and cancer are already known risks of excessive drinking.
Still, research suggests that it doesn’t take a huge amount of alcohol to cause the condition.
It comes as BBC Panorama journalist Hazel Martin was shocked to find out she suffered from alcohol-related liver fibrosis – or extreme scarring of the liver – at the age of 31.
The Scottish mother-of-one said she never drank alone. Instead, she enjoyed it as a social activity.
By definition, however, her consumption from her late teens to late twenties would be considered binge drinking.
Experts have also recently raised the alarm about a ‘worrying’ rise in drinking-related deaths among middle-aged women.
It comes as BBC Panorama journalist Hazel Martin was shocked to discover she was suffering from alcohol-related liver fibrosis – or extreme scarring of the liver – at just 31 years old.
The Scottish mother-of-one (left) said she never drank alone. Instead, she enjoyed it as a social activity
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Exactly how much alcohol can cause irreversible liver damage varies from person to person, as genetics, drinking experience and weight all play a role.
But a shock study found that just 21 binge drinking sessions over seven weeks – three binge episodes per week – were enough to trigger symptoms of early-stage liver failure.
Binge drinking among men was defined as five beers, a bottle of wine or five shots of liquor. For women, the drinking amounted to four or more drinks in two hours.
In the mouse study, American researchers found that liver triglycerides – a type of blood fat – were almost 50 percent higher in the livers of binge drinkers compared to mice that abstained from alcohol.
They also found that just a single episode of binge drinking increased levels of the liver enzyme CYP2E1.
This converts alcohol into toxic byproducts that can cause cell and tissue damage.
Writing in the diary Alcoholism: clinical and experimental researchsaid the researchers: ‘Our results strongly suggest that repeated, excessive alcohol consumption, even without alcohol dependence, can cause fatty liver disease, evidence of early alcohol-related liver dysfunction.’
According to the British Liver Trust, drinking more than 4 units of alcohol per day (about two glasses of wine) will also lead to some build-up of fat in the liver.
The NHS recommends people drink no more than 14 ‘units’ of alcohol – around six glasses of wine or pints of beer – per week
If the damage caused by drinking continues, the liver becomes inflamed and begins to produce scar tissue as it tries to heal itself: fibrosis.
And another worrying study earlier this year found that Brits who engaged in heavy binge drinking (12 units in one day) were three times as likely to develop alcohol-related cirrhosis than those who spread the 12 over a week.
The researchers, who tracked more than 300,000 adultsalso said that those who drank heavily and had a high genetic predisposition were four times more likely, while people with type 2 diabetes doubled the risk.
Dr. Gautam Mehta, co-author of the study and a hepatologist at University College London, said: ‘Only one in three people who drink too much develop serious liver disease.
‘Although genetics play a role, this study highlights that drinking habits are also a key factor.
‘For example, our results suggest that drinking 21 units over a few sessions would be more harmful than spreading it evenly over a week.’
Experts have long warned that British women are coming under increasing pressure to drink after being ‘ruthlessly’ targeted by alcohol companies, cheap supermarket deals and boozy brunch offers.
Hospitality workers and alcohol awareness charities have repeatedly called on the government to introduce stricter marketing restrictions and minimum unit pricing in England to prevent avoidable alcohol-related health problems.
Paola Mosquera from Brighton says she feels more social when she drinks because it helps her meet new people
Michelle Pattison, 47, a carer from Newcastle, said: ‘Women may drink more because they often have full-time jobs and also look after children and the home. They have a lot of extra stress’
When speaking to young women about how their drinking habits have changed, many have previously told MailOnline that they drink alcohol because it helps them de-stress after a long day and gives them the confidence to meet new people.
Paola Mosquera, 30, a massage therapist from Brighton, previously told MailOnline: ‘I drink when I go out because it gives me more confidence.
‘I feel more social and it helps me meet new people. I think this is especially common in England, it’s just the culture here.
‘When women are raising a family, having a career and doing chores at home, it can be very stressful.
‘I know that sometimes when things are really busy all I want to do is go home and take a bubble bath with a glass of red wine. I think many women would agree.
“It’s not good to have a drinking problem, but I think it’s fine if women just want to have a drink to relax, and if that’s in moderation.”
Meanwhile, Michelle Pattison, 47, a carer from Newcastle, said: ‘I was drinking quite a bit. I drank alcohol before I left the house and drank more when I was gone.
‘Women may drink more because they often have a full-time job and also take care of the children and the household. They have a lot of extra stress.’
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The mother of two added that the drinks women tend to choose are part of the problem.
‘Women are also more likely to drink wine and spirits, which have more units.
‘People also drink fruity cocktails that taste like juice, so you don’t realize you’re drinking so much. Plus, it’s very easy to finish a bottle of wine.’
Last year, a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that one in four British women now binge drink at least once a month – the highest rate of the 29 countries surveyed.
More than a quarter also admit to consuming six or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion, more than double the average rate of 12 percent.
Experts decried the “deliberate marketing campaign of the alcohol industry’ to ‘spice up’ drinks as part of a ‘ruthless’ campaign aimed at women.
Others have also warned that an increase in the size of wine glasses over time has played a role, as well as women misinterpreting NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol.
According to health care guidelines, both men and women should drink no more than 14 units per week, with a small glass of wine (125ml) equivalent to 1.5 of that.
Last year, a report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that one in four British women now binge drink at least once a month – the highest rate of the 29 countries surveyed
But ‘some women think it is okay to consume 14 units in one session rather than spreading it over a week,’ Ian Hamilton, an addiction expert at the University of York, told MailOnline today.
“A lot of people don’t understand what unity means,” he added.
Some may have interpreted that each glass of wine, for example, is 1.5 units, regardless of whether it is 150 ml, 200 ml or more.
‘Many women associate problems with alcohol being about daily drinking rather than excessive drinking,’ says Professor Hamilton.
‘So they think that if they have alcohol-free days, they don’t have a problem.
‘This is clearly not the case, as it is a stereotype to associate alcohol problems with daily consumption.
‘For many people it is about drinking patterns and not about the frequency of consumption.’
Leading experts have debated the harms of moderate alcohol consumption for decades.
It came into the spotlight last year when WHO officials warned that no amount of alcohol is safe.
Scientists across the board agree that excessive alcohol consumption can cause a range of cancers and increase blood pressure.
It strains the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD), increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The World Health Organization estimates that alcohol kills three million people around the world every year.