Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final Report This document was published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA).
Paradis, C. et al.
About this Document
This report contains three documents produced for three different target groups. Public Summary The Public Summary is a one-page summary intended for the general public. Technical Summary The Technical Summary is intended for health organizations, health professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, counsellors) and people who would like to learn about the update of the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, its key takeaways, the risks associated with alcohol and the implications. Technical Report The Technical Report is intended for alcohol scientists, policy makers and healthcare professionals who are interested in understanding the detailed process followed, the types of evidence and the way they were used to update the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. The three documents in this report were made available for public consultation from Aug. 29 through Sept. 23, 2022. The report has been modified in response to that consultation. For details on the comments made during the consultation and the response to those comments, see Appendix 4. Notes on Sex and Gender Terminology Alcohol use has risks, effects, influences and consequences specific to sex and gender. In real life experience, sex and gender interact with each other, and with other intersectional characteristics to shape the impacts of alcohol use. The effects and impacts of sex and gender on alcohol use among sub-populations such as Indigenous Peoples, older people, sexual minorities and gender minorities remain underresearched or unknown. As evidence about alcohol and social patterns of drinking evolves, it will be important to continuously reassess the impact of alcohol on all populations, and to create appropriate public health and health promotion advice for all populations. Throughout this report, when presenting sex-related risks, the terms female and male are used. When presenting gender-related risks, the terms women and men are used. When a section or topic involves the entanglement of sex and gender, the terms women and men are used. Notes on a Standard Drink In Canada, a standard drink is 17.05 millilitres or 13.45 grams of pure alcohol, which is the equivalent of: • A bottle of beer (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol) • A bottle of cider (12 oz., 341 ml, 5% alcohol) • A glass of wine (5 oz., 142 ml, 12% alcohol) • A shot glass of spirits (1.5 oz., 43 ml, 40% alcohol
