Authorities in Canada have revised the public guidelines for alcohol consumption, leaning into “recent evidence” to back their claim that consumption of alcohol, however small, is not a protection against heart diseases.
The country’s Public Health Agency has announced this week the Canadian Centre on Substance Use & Addiction’s final report on ‘Guidance on Alcohol and Health’. The organisation, comprising chief medical officers of all provinces and territories with the exception of Quebec, moved to quell “common perceptions” that alcohol consumption in small amounts carries heart-related health benefits.
“The latest evidence shows a direct link between drinking alcohol and increased risk of at least seven types of cancer,” the agency stated. “This recent evidence, contrary to common perceptions, shows that modest consumption of alcohol offers no protective effects against heart diseases, while regular and heavy consumption of alcohol increases the risk of these conditions.
“Research also indicates that consuming more than two drinks on one occasion is associated with an increased risk of harm to self and others, including injury and violence.”
According to the guidance, alcohol caused 18,000 deaths in the country in 2017, with associated costs to the country of CAD16.6bn [US$12.4bn] for the year.
The revised headline recommendation to consumers is to set a weekly limit of two “standard drinks”, a decrease on 2011’s guidance of no more than ten for women, and 15 for men per week.
The definition of a standard drink is 34.1cl of beer, 14.2cl of wine of 4.3cl for spirits.
Click here to view the full report.
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