Canada’s new low-risk drinking guidelines recently came out showing that we should limit alcohol consumption to no more than two drinks per week, and some Canadians may find their drinking habits don’t quite line up with what experts are saying. 

Dr. Jennifer Wyman, Addiction Medicine Physician and Medical Director of the Substance Use Service at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, breaks down the risks and answers the question on many of our minds: how many is too many?

“One way of thinking about this question is to break down the who, what, where, when and why of our drinking habits,” says Dr. Wyman. She continues:

• Who: While both men and women have increased risks of cancer from alcohol, women have higher lifetime risks due to various biological factors. Alcohol is associated with seven different types of cancer and an average of two drinks a day increase women’s risk of cancer by 25 percent; women with additional risk factors for breast cancer should factor that into their drinking habits.
• What: The serving size of a drink is also important to know when assessing our drinking habits; in Canada, one serving of alcohol (13.6 grams) is equivalent to a 5-ounce glass of wine, 12-ounces of beer or 1.5-ounces of 40 percent spirits like rye or gin. Keep in mind that an average bottle of wine contains five glasses, and a “tallboy” can of beer is about one and a half servings.
• When: No amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy or in safety-sensitive situations. Discuss your personal risks with your healthcare provider or family physician.
• Why: Alcohol can often be a social lubricant, can stimulate creativity and enhance the taste of food and experiences, but drinking to manage anxiety or mood is problematic. Alcohol acts a depressant and alcohol use disorder is a risk factor for suicide in people with severe depression. It’s important to consider the reasons behind why we drink and our relationship to alcohol when assessing our drinking habits and make sure we aren’t using it to self-medicate or in ways that could lead to more serious outcomes down the road.

Dr. Wyman also shares that about 20 percent of Canadians and an increasing number of Gen Z and Millennials don’t drink at all. “There is a growing market for zero-proof options and people who choose not to drink shouldn’t have to justify their choice.”