Hastings and Prince Edward Counties/Jan. 19, 2023
Years of research has resulted in a clear message about alcohol consumption: Drinking less is better for your health. Released January 17, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health is an update to the 2011 Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, with a key message that Canadians have the right to know the latest, most accurate information about the risks of alcohol consumption.
The finalized guidance, developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), is based on overwhelming evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk of long-term health harms, including seven types of cancer, most cardiovascular diseases, liver disease, and alcohol dependency, as well as immediate harms such as violence, injuries, and motor vehicle collisions. It also shows that the more you drink, the more you increase your risk of these harms. As stated by the CCSA, the risk of harm from alcohol is:
- Low for individuals who consume two standard drinks or fewer per week;
- Moderate for those who consume between three and six standard drinks per week; and
- Increasingly high for those who consume seven or more standard drinks per week.
In addition, drinking more than two standard drinks per drinking occasion increases the risk of harms to self and others, like injuries and violence. One standard drink is the equivalent of a 12 oz bottle of beer, a 5 oz glass of wine, or 1.5 oz of spirits.
“The new alcohol guidance provides people with evidence based information about the risks associated with alcohol use, so they can make informed decisions about how much they drink,” says Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health. “While this information empowers individuals, reducing the harms of alcohol at a community level requires a focus on policies that create supportive environments for healthy decision-making. We are in the process of reviewing this new guidance to identify opportunities for local promotion, advocacy, and integration into our current programs.”
HPEPH will continue to advocate for evidence-based policies that reduce alcohol-related harms, such as regulation of alcohol marketing, limiting alcohol availability, and strengthening alcohol pricing policies. Specifically, CCSA suggests that an effective policy change could be the mandatory labelling of alcohol beverages with the number of standard drinks in a container, Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, and health warnings.
Individuals who want to reduce their alcohol consumption can visit hpepublichealth.ca/getting-help for community resources and supports.
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Media Contacts:
Emily Tubbs, Communications Specialist
etubbs@hpeph.ca
Maureen Hyland, Communications Specialist
hyland.maureen@hpeph.ca
Communications Team
communications@hpeph.ca
About Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) is a public health agency that serves the counties of Hastings and Prince Edward from four local offices. HPEPH is situated and provides services on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Huron-Wendat and Haudenosaunee people. We monitor the health of our local population, deliver programs and services within our communities, and help develop healthy public policies. We provide information and support in many areas to help improve the health and well-being of our residents. Together with our communities, we help people become as healthy as they can be. For more information, please visit hpePublicHealth.ca. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
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