Why limit alcohol?
Drinking alcohol is linked to chronic diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, and injuries and deaths related to falls, car accidents, violence, suicide and fires. Drinking 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, or to not drink alcohol at all.
New Guidelines on Alcohol and Health
Following the New Guidelines on Alcohol and Health can help you understand the health risks of choosing 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 guidelines on low, moderate, and high-risk alcohol consumption
- Canadian research about the health and harm risks of drinking alcohol
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.
Need Support to Reduce Your Alcohol Intake?
Here are local community services to help you. Find more addiction and mental health supports by clicking here.
- Reach Out 24/7: A free, 24/7, confidential mental health and addictions support and services line for people living in Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford and London. Call or text 519-433-2023 or visit reachout247.ca.
- Addiction Services of Thames Valley: Screening, assessment, treatment planning, and addiction treatment services and support for family members. Call 519-673-3242 ext. 222 or visit adstv.on.ca
- Centre for Addictions and Mental Health: A wide range of clinical assessment and treatment services are available.
- Alcohol-Tracking Apps: Many apps are available to download to android and iOs devices to help track the number of standard-sized alcoholic beverages you are consuming to help you make informed decisions about alcohol consumption and health risks.
Alcohol Impacts in Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas
Read our local Community Alcohol Reports for more information on how alcohol impacts your community: