Share a pint or glass of wine between three to drink safely, says expert

Former government advisor David Nutt says alcohol is more damaging than harder drugs

Alcohol is the leading cause of drug harm, outstripping even heroin and crack cocaine, according to former government adviser David Nutt.

Prof Nutt, who was sacked as chair of the advisory committee on the misuse of drugs in October 2009 for his views, says studies he and colleagues have done in their independent group, Drug Science, consistently show that alcohol harm outstrips that of heroin and crack cocaine, tobacco, cannabis and ecstasy in the UK, Europe and Australia.