Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines 

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.

Canada's Low Risk Drinking Guidelines

For Women: 2 Drinks Per Day, 3 Drinks on a Social Occasion, 10 Drinks Per Week Maximum

For men: 3 Drinks Per Day, 4 Drinks on a Social Occasion, 15 Drinks Per Week Maximum

Here’s a quick look:

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
 

Try a Mocktail

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: 

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:

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.

All Drinks are not Created Equal | Alcohol Content

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).

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.

Keeping it Social │ Drinking Within the Guidelines

Looking for some ways to stay within Canada’s Low Risk Drinking Guidelines? Here are some tips that can help.

 Eat while you drink.
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.)

 A standard drink size matters. 
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.

 Water is your friend. 
Drink more...water, that is. Alcohol dehydrates you. Try a glass of water in between each drink.

 Sip slowly and savour. 
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.

 Choose mixes without caffeine.
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.

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:

• an increased and unpredictable level of impairment and intensified side effects.
• an increased risk of experiencing short-term harms including injury, poor judgment or worse.
• an increased risk of nausea or vomiting and potentially harmful level of dehydration. Alcohol can act as a diuretic and cannabis has the potential to exacerbate this effect resulting in an increased risk of dehydration.