This chart is intended to be used in conjunction with our discussion on Low Risk Drinking Guidelines (“LRDGs”). The charts below compare the LRDGs in various countries from around the world. However, different countries use different measurements – some, like Canada, use “standard drinks”, others use drink measurements which are different or use grams of alcohol. In order to create a meaningful comparison, the LRDGs below have been converted into grams of alcohol per week

The current LRDGs for Canada are that consumption should be limited as follows (g/alcohol per week for “low risk”):

Canada (Current LRDGs)

Men 204 - Women 136

Other countries have varying LRDGs, some of which are similar to Canada’s current ones, or somewhat lower. Here are some examples.

USA

Men 196 - Women 98

UK

Men 112 - Women 112

Australia

Men 100 - Women 100

France

Men 100 - Women 100

Italy

Men 168 - Women 84

New Zealand

Men 150 - Women 100

Japan

Men 280 - Women 140

You may have read media reports or heard that Canada’s LRDGs have recently changed to significantly lower limits than those set out above. This is NOT correct. The LRDGs have not changed and remain the same as they were in 2011. You can see that they have not changed by visiting this Health Canada link.

The lower limits that you may have heard about are a set of recommendations contained in a report from an advisory group (CCSA) that was asked to do a review of the current LRDGs. The recommendations have not been accepted by Health Canada at this time. The recommendation proposals are as follows:

CCSA Recommendation

Men 27 - Women 27

You can see that the limits from these recommendations are dramatically lower than any of the LRDGs that are set out above which immediately raises questions as to their propriety. It is the view of CARD that this set of recommendations is flawed and should not be adopted. You can read our analysis of these issues here.