Drinking for Life
‘Moderation is not Prohibition’
We understand that people are passionate regarding when, what and with whom they drink. It is also understood that alcohol is a big part of our society and culture – total abstinence, or making alcohol disappear, is not the goal. As someone said “It’s not what we drink, but how we drink ” that’s important.
Moderation is vital to our individual and social health.
So, exactly how much consumption constitutes ‘moderation’?
How much do we drink? 64.5% of Simcoe Muskoka residents report that they drink within the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. What are the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines? They are scientific guidelines that make recommendations on alcohol consumption. The guideline numbers have been chosen to minimize the impact on our health, short term and long term. It should be noted that low impact does not equal zero impact – alcohol can affect health, and raise risks for some conditions, regardless of the level of consumption.
Your Limits Reduce your long-term health risks by drinking no more than:
10 drinks a week for women, with no more than 2 drinks a day most days 15 drinks a week for men, with no more than 3 drinks a day most days Plan non-drinking days every week to avoid developing a habit.
Understanding Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines VIDEO
Take the Home Bartending Challenge! If the research behind the guidelines interests you, you can read more here.
A Fun Exercise Test your knowledge of a standard drink. Try pouring one:
Underestimating It is noted that many of us underestimate how much we drink!
