Alcohol
Alcohol consumption is linked to health problems including, but not limited to, cancer, heart disease and liver disease. It also increases the risk of injuries and violence.
Limit your alcohol intake
Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health outlines a continuum of risk associated with weekly alcohol intake.
| Number of drinks per week | Level of risk |
|---|---|
|
0 drinks |
No risk; health benefits, such as better health and better sleep |
|
1-2 standard drinks |
Low risk; likely to avoid alcohol-related consequences |
| 3-6 standard drinks | Moderate risk; risk of developing different types of cancer (e.g. breast, colon) increases |
| 7 or more standard drinks |
Increasingly high risk; risk of heart disease or stroke increases Each additional drink raises the risk of alcohol-related consequences |
For more information, see Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, Public Summary: Drinking Less Is Better [PDF]
Reduce your alcohol consumption by following the Canadian Cancer Society's 10 smart ways to limit alcohol.
What is a standard drink?
A standard drink is any drink that contains about 13.6 grams of pure alcohol. Once you know what a standard drink is, you will have a better idea of how much alcohol you are actually consuming.
One standard drink equals:
- Beer | 12 oz | 341 ml | 5% alcohol
- Cider, cooler, ready-to-drink | 12 oz | 341 ml | 5% alcohol
- Wine | 5 oz | 142 ml | 12% alcohol
- Spirits (e.g. vodka, rum, whiskey) | 1.5 oz | 43 ml | 40% alcohol
Alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding
No amount of alcohol is safe for your baby during pregnancy. Learn more about the impact of drinking during pregnancy:
- Be safe: have an alcohol-free pregnancy – Best Start
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Health Canada
When breastfeeding, having no alcohol is safest.
Supports to reduce or stop drinking
If you, or someone you know, is looking for support to reduce the amount of alcohol they consume:
- Talk to your health care provider
- Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca for social services, programs and community supports
- Visit our Community Services page for addiction support services and other resources