Health
The research is clear: ANY alcohol is linked to both short- and long-term health effects.
Heart Disease
Alcohol is linked to most types of heart disease including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, coronary disease, and irregular heartbeat.1
The evidence no longer supports the idea that alcohol is good for your health. The World Health Organization and the World Heart Federation have confirmed that there is no healthy amount of alcohol use.1, 2
Liver Disease
Alcohol is one of the main causes for the rise in liver disease rates in Canada. Alcohol can cause different types of liver disease which can be linked to life threatening complications and liver cancer.1 Liver problems can happen when drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time AND when drinking lower amounts over many years.
Cancer
Evidence shows that alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer.3 These cancers include breast, colorectal, mouth, throat, liver, esophagus, and larynx (voice box).4
Learn more about the link between cancer and alcohol.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there is no safe time, type, or amount of alcohol.
Injury
Drinking more than 2 standard drinks per occasion has been shown to increase the risk for injuries and violence for the person who is drinking and those around them.1
Benefits of Reducing Alcohol Intake1,4,5
Did you know that reducing your alcohol intake has short & long-term health benefits?
More Energy
Improved Wellbeing
Lower Blood Pressure
Improved Sleep Quality
Improved Concentration
Lower Blood Sugar
Lower risk of stroke, hypertension, cancer and liver disease
Alcohol Costs MORE Than it Makes6,7,8
1) Paradis, C., Butt, P., Shield, K., Poole, N., Wells, S., Naimi, T., Sherk, A., & the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines Scientific Expert Panels. (2023, January). Canada’s guidance on alcohol and health: Final report. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. https://www.ccsa.ca/canadas-guidance-alcohol-and-health#canada-s-guidance-on-alcohol-and-health
2) World Health Organization.(2023, January 4). No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health
3) Conner, J. (2017). Alcohol consumption as a cause of cancer. Addiction, 112(2),
4) The University of Sussex. (2019, January 2). How “Dry January” is the secret to better sleep, saving money and losing weight. https://www.sussex.ac.uk/news/article/47131-how-dry-january-is-the-secret-to-better-sleep-saving-money-and-losing-weight
5) De Visser, R. (2019). Evaluation of Dry January 2019. https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/32647/1/R-de-Visser-Dry-January-evaluation-2019.pdf
6) Statistics Canada. Table 10-10-0010-01 Sales of alcoholic beverages types by liquor authorities and other retail outlets, by value, volume, and absolute volume.
7) Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms Scientific Working Group. (2023). Ontario Profile: Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms (2007–2020). (Prepared by the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.) Ottawa, Ont.: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
8) Statistics Canada. Table 10-10-0012-01 Net income of liquor authorities and government revenue from sale of alcoholic beverages (x 1,000).