Alcohol

Alcohol has been found to have harmful health effects. Research from the Canadian Guidance on Alcohol and Health shows that even a small amount of alcohol can affect your health, so it’s best to drink less.

What are the recommendations from the Canadian Guidance on Alcohol and Health?

The main message is that drinking less is better for your health. The guidance gives people a reference point on when health risks start to increase because of the amount drank, so that people can make informed decisions for themselves about what is worth the risk. As a person drinks more, the risks increase.

What are the health risks of alcohol?

Drinking alcohol—even in moderation—can increase your risk of serious health issues, including:

• Cancer: Alcohol is classified as a carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer. In Canada, around 7,000 cancer deaths each year are linked to alcohol. Drinking any amount of alcohol increases the risk of cancers, including those of the mouth, throat, liver, colon and breast.

• Heart problems: Drinking doesn’t protect your heart as some may believe. Instead, regular alcohol use may raise your risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and stroke, especially if you drink seven or more standard drinks per week.

• Liver damage: Alcohol can harm the liver over time, causing inflammation, scarring (cirrhosis), and other liver diseases, which affect its ability to function. Liver disease us is on the rise in Canada, and alcohol is one of its main causes.

• Violence: Alcohol can impact your thoughts and behaviour and can lead to violence, including intimate partner violence, male-to-female sexual violence, and aggression and violence between adults. It can also increase the severity of violent incidents

• Injuries: People are more likely to get hurt because of how their judgment, vision, and coordination are impacted. Motor vehicle crashes, snowmobile incidents, fire injuries, drowning, and falls often involve alcohol use.

• Alcohol Use Disorder (Addiction): Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects physical, mental, and financial well-being, all of which can affect your health. Alcohol use disorders are diagnosed by a health care provider through an assessment using specific criteria. Although most people who binge drink do not meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder, pretty much all people with an alcohol use disorder engage in binge drinking.

Who is at higher risk when consuming alcohol?

Some individuals should avoid alcohol altogether due to higher risks, including:

• Children and youth
• People who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• Individuals with a history of addiction or substance use concerns
• Anyone taking medications or any other substances that can interact with alcohol
• Anyone planning to drive or use heavy equipment

How can we prevent the health risk with alcohol?

Most Canadians aren’t aware of alcohol’s health risks—only 1 in 4 know that alcohol can cause cancer, even though it’s been classified as a cancer risk since 1987. Drinking less helps protect your health and the well-being of those around you. Reducing alcohol use lowers your risk of serious health issues, injuries, and violence, which can impact both your lifespan and quality of life.

Research shows that the most effective ways to prevent alcohol risks to the population is through effective policies that help to regulate alcohol, through availability, price, advertising and drink driving legislation.

Additional resources:

For more detailed information about alcohol and health, you can explore:

• Download Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health
• Learn more about the impact of alcohol on cardiovascular health
• Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation
• Learn more about the impact of alcohol on cancer risk 
• Alcohol and the Brain (video) - Dr. Anya Topiwala, Senior Researcher at the University of Oxford

Want to learn more about alcohol, drugs and tobacco? Visit our Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco page