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Four in five drinkers would live longer if they cut back by just half a glass of wine a week, according to a major study.

Around two-thirds of adults consume alcohol at least once a week, half of whom exceed the recommended safe levels, the Daily Mail reports.

But the study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimated that between 79 and 83 per cent could reduce their overall risk of death by cutting back by just one unit. 

This is equivalent to one small 125ml glass of wine – half a 250ml glass commonly used by restaurants – or half a pint of beer.

The research also showed that in the UK the average adult drinks 10.5 litres or 18.5 pints of pure alcohol a year.

This is the 11th highest of the 34 Western countries included in the study and well above the average of nine litres.

Alcohol consumption has increased by 10 per cent in the UK in the past 30 years, whereas in most other countries – including France, the US and the Netherlands – it has started to fall.

The report also calculated that two-thirds of alcohol in the UK is drunk by the 20 per cent of adults who drink over the safe limits.

NHS guidelines state that women should have no more than 14 units a week while men should not exceed 21 units. But just over half of adults admit they exceed this limit, including a quarter who drink more than double.