It's all true.
Alcohol is the drug that Albertans use most, and it is so much a part of social events that it is not usually thought of as a drug, but it is.
While most Albertans who choose to drink do so in moderation, by following Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines there are still risks.
AHS is here to help reduce harm.
If you choose to drink alcohol, to reduce your risk know your limits and know when not to drink alcohol at all.
How do I figure out my own limits? Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (LRDG) can help.
Alcohol changes the way a person thinks and feels and how alcohol affects people depends on many factors including a person’s weight, biological sex, age, whether they’ve eaten and if they’ve taken any substances (e.g., prescription drugs, over-the-counter-medicine, cannabis or other drugs).
The size of a drink, the amount of alcohol in the drink and how fast a person drinks also contribute to alcohol’s effects. Alcohol can affect ones coordination, balance, reaction time, judgment and ability to make decisions.
Studies show that many of us underestimate the amount we drink. To better understand our limits and be aware of how much we drink, we need to know what a standard drink is in every form (beer, wine, cider, spirits and pre-mixed drinks such as coolers).
No matter which you drink, it is all the same to your body.
Understanding your limits and following the LRDG can help reduce immediate and long-term alcohol-related harm. The LRDG are intended for adults aged 25 to 65 years who choose to drink.
It is important to recognize that these are low-risk, not no-risk, guidelines and the guidelines set limits, not targets, for alcohol consumption.
Alcohol is one of the main causes of death on Alberta roads. Approximately one in six drivers involved in a fatal collision had been drinking prior to the collision. According to Mothers against Drunk Driving Canada, motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death in 16- to 25-year-olds and alcohol is involved in 55% of these collisions.
There are several things you can do if you choose to drink alcohol to stay safer, for example:
For some people letting others know they don’t want to drink alcohol is easy and they know their friends will respect their choice. For others this may be more difficult. Here are some responses to decline alcohol:
You can also make your own drinks without alcohol or order non-alcoholic drinks for yourself.
When an occasion calls for a gathering of friends, it also calls for a responsible host. You can consider having a party without alcohol, but if you do choose to serve it here are a few tips to ensure your guests feel supported (whether they choose to drink alcohol or not) and get home safely.
Making educated decisions about drinking alcohol can help prevent alcohol from being a problem in your life. Understanding the effects of alcohol and the risks of alcohol use can help you make an informed decision about whether or not to drink and make safer decisions about drinking if you choose to drink.
When use is long-term, even as little as one or two drinks daily, the risk of cancer of the breast, liver, mouth, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, colon and rectum increases. Long-term average alcohol use also increases risk of heart disease, stroke, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. These facts underline the caution that following the guidelines does not eliminate risk.
In the short-term, every drink increases a person’s chances of being injured, of being involved in motor vehicle collisions, of being involved in violence and of harm from risky sexual behaviour.
Alcohol can also impact brain development for people under 25. That’s because, up until that point, your brain is still developing – including the part of the brain responsible for planning, organizing, impulse control, concentration and attention.
Heavier drinking, even if occasional, poses the possibility of alcohol poisoning, and increases the chances of the cancers and other chronic diseases described above.
For more information about the health effects of alcohol, visit Alcohol and Health Series: Cancer and Other Chronic Disease and Alcohol Use and Health Risks. Alcohol Use and Health Benefits
Reduce long-term health risks for multiple chronic disease with these specific LRDG:
Reduce your long-term health risks by:
If you want to specifically reduce your risk of developing cancer, the Canadian Cancer Society recommends:
Be aware that small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of certain cancers, so the less alcohol you drink, the more you reduce the risk of developing cancer.
Reduce short-term harm (injuries like falls and illnesses like alcohol poisoning) with this specific LRDG:
It is important to recognize that these are low-risk, not no-risk, guidelines and the guidelines set limits, not targets, for alcohol consumption.
Young adults between the ages of 20 and 24, who identify as "current drinkers," (i.e., they have drank alcohol in the past 12 months), drink alcohol at higher rates than the rest of the population.
Young adults also have higher rates of risky drinking, meaning that they have a higher risk of long-term health harm and for injuries and alcohol poisoning.
Alcohol can impact brain development for people under 25. That’s because, up until that point, your brain is still developing – including the part of the brain responsible for planning, organizing, impulse control, concentration and attention.
From legal drinking age to age 24, the guidelines recommend that young people follow the same rules as those of adults aged 25 to 65, with one difference: those under 25 should never on a single occasion exceed two drinks for women and three drinks for men.
It is important to recognize that these are low-risk, not no-risk, guidelines and the guidelines set limits, not targets, for alcohol consumption.
While a slight majority, of Alberta youth (youth in grades 7 – 12) do not drink alcohol. Approximately, 47% of Alberta youth reported having a drink of alcohol and 61% of them said they binge when they drink. Binge drinking means having five drinks or more on one occasion.
Evidence shows that because a youth’s brain is still developing, drinking may have a greater effect on planning, organizing, impulse control, concentration and attention in youth than adults. Further, the younger a person starts to drink alcohol the more likely they are to have an alcohol-related problem in the future.
If youth do decide to drink Canada’s LRDG recommend that youth:
To learn more about drinking and youth, the health risks, how adults can be positive role models, and what to do if you are concerned about youth drinking see Alcohol and Adolescents and Youth and Alcohol.
Canada’s Low Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines
Alcohol and Alberta
Alcohol and Your Health
Alcohol and Youth
Alcohol and Young Adults
Alcohol and Older Adults
Drinking and Driving
Problem Drinking
If you need help or are concerned with someone else’s substance use, call:
Health Link at 811 or
1-866-332-2322 the Addiction Helpline
(available 24 hours a day, seven days a week)