Lower Risk Drinking
Memorable Nights. Incredible Mornings.
Sure, you can have a couple, and if you follow Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines you can create a lifestyle that includes alcohol, non-drinking days and overall balance. If you want to feel rested in the morning and have more energy during the day, following the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines can help get you there.
The Low Risk Drinking Guidelines, based on scientific evidence, were developed by experts to help adults reduce the health and safety risks associated with drinking alcohol. The guidelines are different for men and women because men and women don’t process alcohol the same way.
While following these guidelines might lower the risks of drinking alcohol, it doesn’t make it risk-free. One other thing – the recommended daily and weekly limits are not targets to drink up to. As a matter of fact, the guidelines recommend having non-drinking days each week to avoid forming a habit.
Get the full guidelines See the effects of alcohol on the body
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So what's a drink?
People’s idea of a drink can vary widely. A bartender using a shot glass will pour a very different sized drink than your friend who has just whipped up a batch of margaritas.
To stay within the Low Risk Drinking Guidelines, your drinks need to be standard ones. A standard drink looks like this:
Beer: 12oz or 341ml based on 5% alcohol content Wine: 5oz or 142ml based on 12% alcohol content Spirits: 1.5oz or 43ml based on 40% alcohol content If you're the one pouring, take the Home Bartending Challenge and see how your skills measure up when it comes to serving a standard drink. Even the same type of drink in the same amount might be more than a standard drink because of alcohol content. Take beer, for example. The alcohol content can vary from 1.1 to 11 percent and up. That means the same amount of beer may or may not be equal to one standard drink (17 ml of pure alcohol). X-TRA LIGHT: 12oz/341ml | 1.1% - 2.5% alcohol | 2.5% ~ .3oz/9ml pure alcohol LIGHT: 12oz/341ml | 2.6% - 4% alcohol | 4% ~ .5oz/14ml pure alcohol REGULAR BEER: 12oz/341ml | 4.1% - 5.5% alcohol | 5.5% ~ .7oz/19ml pure alcohol STRONG: 12oz/341ml | 5.6% - 8.5% alcohol | 8.5% ~ 1oz/29ml pure alcohol X-TRA STRONG: 12oz/341ml | 8.6 % alcohol+ | 11% ~ 1.3oz/38ml pure alcohol Consider skipping the chaser and trying a spacer - a non-alcoholic or low alcohol drink that you have in between alcoholic ones. How about whipping up one of these mocktails as your spacer? Check out these videos for delicious recipes and step-by-step instructions: There’s a ton of information out there about drinking. Some of it’s accurate, some of it not so much. Here you’ll find some common myths about alcohol…and the facts.
Looking for some ways to stay within Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines? Here are some tips that can help. Eat while you drink. A standard drink size matters. Water is your friend. Sip slowly and savour. Choose mixes without caffeine. Combining Alcohol & Cannabis Alcohol and cannabis might seem like similar products in their ability to provide a relaxing experience, however, combining these products together can pose a risk to users. When cannabis and alcohol are combined, or used within the same session, the effects can be unpredictable. For users of these products, this combination may create the following:
All Drinks are not Created Equal | Alcohol Content
Try a Mocktail
The Real Deal on Alcohol | Myths and Facts
Keeping it Social │ Drinking Within the Guidelines
Snack often, before and while you drink, to slow down how fast your body’s absorbing the alcohol being consumed. Your stomach will thank you in the morning. (Your head might too.)
Who says size doesn’t matter? Stick to a standard pour and take a pass on top ups so you know how much you’re really drinking.
Drink more...water, that is. Alcohol dehydrates you. Try a glass of water in between each drink.
Chugging’s for amateurs. Sip slowly and savour. Enjoy your wine’s aroma and the taste of that single malt. And if you have a couple of non-drinking days each week, like the guidelines recommend, you might just have the extra funds to splurge on some top shelf products.
Think about taking a pass on alcohol mixed with energy drinks, especially the hand-mixed ones because they usually contain more caffeine than the pre-mixed kind. Why? Because caffeine in energy drinks can mask the effects of alcohol - you might end up feeling like you’re not drunk, but you are.
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