Creating sound and effective liquor policies for Canadians is challenging work for government. The task requires a complicated balancing of multiple concerns including those related to the public’s desires (which are divergent), the economics of the industry, taxation revenue, and the negative social and health consequences of harmful consumption. I know how tricky the balancing act is because I was appointed as the BC Government’s liquor policy advisor in 2017.

Recently, I have been concerned by the confusing messaging that is being presented to Canadians regarding the health issues associated with alcohol consumption. This is a very important area of discourse because all of us want to stay healthy and the costs of ill health extend across society, both economically and on a broad social level. It’s important for all such discussion to be informed, balanced and sensible. In order to provide such information, I have launched the Canadian Association for Responsible Drinkers (CARD). We are an informal association of concerned citizens and industry groups that is dedicated to providing unbiased information and education that encourages responsible drinking and reduces harmful consumption. Here’s what we stand for.

For decades, the focus of alcohol/health policy has been to address harmful consumption. This makes sense because over the past decades, hundreds of scientific studies have consistently shown that those who drink in moderation are, on average, either just as healthy as non-drinkers or are actually slightly healthier. As such, the most sensible and effective public health messaging regarding alcohol has been to focus on reducing harmful consumption, which Canada has done successfully by creating a culture of moderate consumption for those who choose to drink. Indeed, in its latest report on alcohol consumption, Statistics Canada reports that overall consumption declined in the past year, that it is seeing the lowest levels of “heavy drinking” that it has ever seen, and that the vast majority of Canadians (about 85%) drink in moderation. 

However, recently, a different narrative has arisen which claims that there is “no safe level” (NSL) of alcohol consumption. This “one size fits all” approach is likely to be ineffective since it ignores harmful consumption and instead shifts the focus on to moderate drinkers who simply want to have a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the hockey game. One NSL group has even recommended to Health Canada that Canadians should not drink more than 2 drinks per week, reduced from a previous recommendation of 14 for men and 10 for women. No safe level? 2 drinks per week?  These conclusions are contrary to the decades of proven science mentioned above. They defy common sense. We all know relatives and friends who have consumed in moderation above these amounts for decades and lived to a healthy old age.

Fortunately, the wise folks at Health Canada have NOT adopted the lower guidelines which are wildly out of step with other low risk drinking guidelines around the world. You can check out their web site here to see that Canada’s previous guidelines remain exactly the same. In CARD’s view, those practical and reasonable guidelines should stay just the way they are. Here’s why we think that.

The “science” has not changed as many prominent researchers have pointed out. Most studies continue to show the same results as they did previously, which is that there are links between moderate alcohol consumption and improved cardiovascular health while also showing some increases in risk for certain types of cancer, some of which are very rare. Depending upon the individual, these potential benefits and risks could balance each other out, meaning that moderate consumption is part of an individual’s healthy lifestyle. But for a different individual, they could provide an indicator of worse health or could provide an indicator of improved health. As a result, it is wise for each person to educate themselves and to make their own decisions about what benefits and risks they are comfortable with in the context of their own lives and lifestyles. There’s more information on our web site regarding these issues.

It's also important to understand the actual risks associated with alcohol consumption in the real world. Life is full of risks that we accept every day. If we did not accept some amount of daily risk, we would have a hard time leaving the house each morning. Yet, the NSL approach assumes that any risk or increase in risk associated with alcohol consumption is unacceptable. In reality, the risks of cancer from moderate alcohol consumption are low and in line with many of the other risks that we accept in day to day life. David Spiegelhalter, a professor specializing in the public understanding of risk at Cambridge University, has criticized the NSL approach as misleading and simplistic because it equates minimal risk with total abstention from drinking:

… claiming there is no ‘safe’ level does not seem an argument for abstention. There is no safe level of driving, but governments do not recommend that people avoid driving. Come to think of it, there is no safe level of living, but nobody would recommend abstention.

Finally, it is important to recognize the benefits that many Canadians obtain from alcohol consumption. Benefits related to social interaction, and simple pleasure, have been well documented in many studies. Such factors are important for the assessment and balancing of risk by individuals, and particularly at moderate levels of consumption, where the benefits may outweigh or equal any potential harms … or be determined to be so insignificant as to be acceptable.

In CARD’s view, Canadian governments, both federal and provincial, should reject the NSL approach and continue to focus their efforts on reducing harmful consumption and encouraging moderate consumption for those who choose to drink. This approach has a proven track record of success. Canadians deserve sensible and useful information regarding alcohol consumption so that they can make informed choices about what level of consumption, if any, is appropriate for them. I hope that you will find CARD’s web site and educational material to be useful … and that it will enable you to make smart decisions about your own alcohol consumption.

Mark Hicken, Executive Director

mark@cafrd.ca