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Drinkers are being urged by government to cut back on alcohol after figures revealed a summer of heavy drinking.
Public health minister Gillian Merron has called for drinkers to treat the end of the holiday season as a time to cut back.
She suggested that people should use September "as the new January" and pledge to be "a little more healthy".
Her call came after the Department of Health revealed that drinkers downed an average of eight alcoholic drinks every day during their summer holiday this year.
With a typical summer break lasting ten days, this works out as 80 alcoholic drinks over one holiday.
And 80 pints of beer is equivalent to 227 units, while 80 large glasses of white wine is 240 units.
The NHS recommends that women should not regularly drink more than two or three units a day, while men should not regularly drink more than three or four units a day.
Merron stated: "It's all too easy to slip into the habit of drinking too much on holiday. And it’s always hard to get back into a normal routine.
"But we should try to use September as the new January and make a pledge to be a little more healthy.
"Sticking within the NHS's recommended daily limits means you reduce your risk of serious conditions such as liver disease, cancer and stroke," she added
Some 3,500 adults in England took part in the online study for the government's 'Know Your Limits' campaign between July 31 and August 9, 2009.
'Know Your Limits' is a joint Department of Health and Home Office initiative aimed at encouraging responsible drinking.
A recent survey by Drinkaware also showed that 61 per cent of 16 and 17 year olds in Britain intend to drink alcohol over their summer holidays.
The survey also revealed that 29 per cent often drank alcohol because they were bored.
The 'Know Your Limits' campaign recommends that people have at least two-alcohol free days each week, as well as alternating alcohol drinks with soft drinks.
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd