Drinking can alone can be dangerous, not just because it can be a sign of addiction, but because it tends to encourage pouring larger measures, one expert has said.

According to Drinkaware, a pressure group which aims to change the UK’s drinking habits for the better, while people may think they are only having one vodka, they are actually pouring themselves several measures at a time.

YouGov carried out a survey on behalf of Drinkaware which found that under one fifth of people can accurately guess the correct recommended daily alcohol limit, which is two to three drinks for women and four units for me.

Furthermore, just 18 per cent of women could accurately state the recommended daily alcohol limit of two to three units per day.

Considering that most of the population drinks - 88 per cent said they had in the last year - the lack of knowledge revealed in the survey could be interpreted as cause for concern.

This viewpoint is bolstered by the fact that 22 per cent of respondent's said that they were unaware that drinking in excess could cause them to have a stroke in later life.

Another 53 per cent were unaware their habit could lead to an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, while 54 per cent did not know that drinking in excess can up their chance of developing throat cancer.

YouGov found that men more than women are likely to exceed this limit, while around seven million men and women in England are drinking above the recommended guideline levels.

Dr Dawn Harper from Drinkaware, said that the problem with drinking at home arose because people like the fact they then do not have to drive and they can feel more relaxed.

She added: "It is very significant that if you are pouring drinks at home you are not pouring to standard measures and are almost certainly giving yourself more per drink [than] if you were buying it over a bar.

"If you are drinking above your limit it is not a case of if you get away with it but when, you will run into problems."

The expert continued to note that drinkers should be aware that the health problems alcohol induces creep on "insidiously", meaning that while an excessive drinker may feel fine one day the next they could wake up with symptoms of serious health problems.