The local board of health has received a report on Canada’s new Guidance on Alcohol and Health.
At its meeting on Wednesday, the Prince Edward Hastings Board of Health heard that, based on recent research, the range of standard alcohol drinks for low, moderate and high risk are different from those adopted in 2011.
This new guidance and its recommendations are intended to increase awareness among the public about the harms of drinking, so Canadians can make informed decisions about their alcohol use.
The report to the board:
Earlier this year, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) released new Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH):
The new CGAH replaces the former Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (LRADG) document that was released in 2011. Based on recent research evidence, the range of standard alcohol drinks for low, moderate, and high risk are different from the previous LRADGs.
As per the new CGAH:
– No risk is with zero standard drinks per week.
– Low risk alcohol consumption is one to two standard drinks per week.
– Moderate risk alcohol consumption is three to six standard drinks per week.
– High risk alcohol consumption is seven or more standard drinks per week.
The key takeaway from CGAH is not to limit a person to two standard drinks of alcohol per week, nor does it recommend abstinence from alcohol. This new guidance and its recommendations simply intend to increase awareness among the public about the harms of drinking so Canadians can make informed decisions about their alcohol use.
Bill S-254 calls on the Federal Government to make warning labels mandatory on alcoholic beverages. The labels on alcohol may include standard drink size information and health information about the link between alcohol consumption and the development of seven types of cancers.
The warning labels on alcoholic beverages are intended to increase awareness among the public related to the harms associated with alcohol consumption as well as to inform Canadians about standard drink size and harms associated with drinking.
This line of action is aligned with the recommendations of CCSA, Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project and ongoing research.
