Drinking alcohol is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure and stroke. It is also linked to injuries and deaths because of falls, car accidents, violence, suicide and fires. Drinking more than what is recommended in Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines can also lead to addiction and other problems for families, friends, workplaces, schools and communities. The best way to lower risk is to monitor the amount of alcohol you drink.
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Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines
Following Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines can help you stay healthy and safe if you choose to consume alcohol. The guidelines give consistent information to Canadians of legal drinking age, including:
- Definitions of a standard drink for beer, wine, and hard liquor
- Recommended weekly and daily limits to reduce risk
- Tips for safer alcohol consumption
Alcohol and pregnancy
There is no safe amount of alcohol, no safe type of alcohol, or safe time to drink alcohol when you are pregnant. Drinking while pregnant puts your baby at high risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). FASD describes a range of harms that result from drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including:
- Brain damage
- Hearing and/or vision difficulties
- Organ damage
- Deformation of bones and limbs
- Learning disabilities
- Physical disabilities
- Behavioural challenges
FASD is 100% preventable. Speak to your health care provider or visit the FASD Ontario website for more information.
Alcohol risks for youth
Rethink Your Drinking provides information for parents including strategies for reducing your child’s risks. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction also provides a low-risk drinking guideline for youth, which summarizes evidence that drinking can harm physical and mental development in young people. It is recommended that youth delay drinking alcohol until at least the legal drinking age. Find more educational resources on our Use Your Instincts page.
Assess your drinking
Download Knowing Your Limits with Alcohol: A Practical Guide to Assessing Your Drinking on the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction’s website.
Alcohol in Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas
Read our local Community Alcohol Reports for more information on how alcohol impacts your community: