Alcohol is not going to go away. Like anything else, the better we understand how to use this drug (and if we think about it as a drug we can take it more seriously). These guidelines can help us lower the risk. If you are a parent pay special attention to Guideline 5.
Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines
Drinking is a personal choice. If you choose to drink, these guidelines can help you decide when, where, why and how.
Guideline 1
Reduce your long-term health risks by drinking no more than:
10 drinks a week for women, with no more than 2 drinks a day most days 15 drinks a week for men, with no more than 3 drinks a day most days
Plan non-drinking days every week to avoid developing a habit.
Guideline 2
Reduce your risk of injury and harm by drinking no more than 3 drinks (for women) and 4 drinks (for men) on any single occasion.
Plan to drink in a safe environment. Stay within the weekly limits outlined in Guideline 1
Guideline 3
Do not drink when you are:
driving a vehicle or
using machinery and tools
taking medicine or other drugs that interact with alcohol
doing any kind of dangerous physical activity
living with mental or physical health
problem solving
living wth alcohol dependence
pregnant or planning to be pregnant
responsible for the safety of others
making important decisions
Guideline 4
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or before breastfeeding, the safest choice is to drink no alcohol at all.
Guideline 5
If you are a child or youth, you should delay drinking until your late teens. Talk with your parents about drinking. Alcohol can harm the way your brain and body develop.
If you are drinking, plan ahead, follow local alcohol laws and stay within the limits outlined in Guideline 1.
For these guidelines, "a drink" means
341 ml (12 oz.) bottle of 5% alcohol beer, cider or cooler142 ml
(5 oz.) glass of 12% alcohol wine
43 ml (1.5 oz.) serving of 40% distilled
Low-risk drinking helps to promote a culture of moderation.
Low-risk drinking supports healthy lifestyles.
Tips
Set limits for yourself and abide by them. Drink slowly. Have no more than 2 drinks in any 3 hours.For every drink of alcohol, have one non-alcoholic drink. Eat before and while you are drinking. Always consider your age, body weight and health problems that might suggest lower limits.
While drinking may provide health benefits for certain groups of people, do not start to drink, or increase your drinking, for health benefits.
For more information on Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines and related reports, please visit the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) website..
Reference
Butt, P., Beirness, D., Cesa, F., Gliksman, L., Paradis, C., & Stockwell, T. (2011). Alcohol and health in Canada: A summary of evidence and guidelines for low-risk drinking.Ottawa, ON: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
Have feedback? Email: [email protected]
© Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse 2011
Developed by the National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee.
