Highlights from Canada’s guidance on alcohol and health
The StarJan 18, 2023
The Canadian government announced new national recommendations that say zero alcohol is the only risk-free approach to drinking. The guidance says two drinks each week is deemed low-risk, a steep drop from the previous recommendation.
The previous recommendations from 2011 called for limiting consumption to 15 drinks per week for men and ten drinks per week for women. These new recommendations reflect data from studies conducted over the last decade that link even small amounts of alcohol to multiple types of cancer.
This new guidance is based on scientific evidence. If these policies are implemented, there's a chance to reduce alcohol-related harms and promote health and wellness in Canada. To be successful, warning labels on bottles and cans should go hand in hand with stronger regulations of alcohol advertising and marketing, restrictions on the availability, and a minimum price.
The new guidelines put Canada out of step with other Western nations. In Australia, the 2020 national guidance recommends no more than 10 standard drinks per week. France suggests the same. The US recommendation is no more than two drinks a day for men and one for women, while the UK says no more than 14 "units." It remains to be seen whether Canadians — who love their beer almost as much as their hockey — will accept these recommendations.