(Telegraph) - Enjoying a glass of wine after work does the same harm as drinking three shots of vodka, the head of Public Health England has warned as he said alcohol was becoming the "silent killer" of working age Britons.

Duncan Selbie said that said that deaths from working age people have increased by 500 per cent since the 1970s because many people "pour a glass and have no idea how much they are drinking".

MPs say that people are safer enjoying an alcoholic drink in their local pub as measures are controlled rather than buying large quantities of wine at "rock bottom prices" in supermarkets and drinking in "non-sociable atmosphere away from people's communities".

They also warn that it the at home drinking is problematic among the middle classes who pour themselves a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Writing in his weekly briefing to staff Mr Selbie said Liver disease is now the third biggest killer of working age adults: "And it is a silent killer, with 75 per cent of people with cirrhosis only being diagnosed once they are admitted to hospital."

He added that the illness is "largely preventable" but that one of the biggest risk factor, alcohol, was difficult to control. He wrote: "For example, a large glass of wine is like three shots of vodka, so it is very easy for people to pour a glass and have no idea how much they are drinking."

He added that the illness is "largely preventable" but that one of the biggest risk factor, alcohol, was difficult to control. He wrote: "For example, a large glass of wine is like three shots of vodka, so it is very easy for people to pour a glass and have no idea how much they are drinking."