Limit AlcoholThis is a picture of a tall, small glass of alcohol.

Don't start drinking for health reasons. To keep your heart healthy, eat better, exercise more and don't smoke.

Excessive drinking can cause a variety of health problems. Almost every system in the body can be negatively affected by alcohol. The physical effects of alcohol are many and far reaching and they can vary from person to person.

If you do choose to drink, follow the Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines listed below:

  • Keep track of how much you drink -- daily and weekly.
  • Women limit alcohol to one drink per day/ 7 drinks per week
  • Men limit alcohol to 2 drinks per day/ 14 per week.
  • Know what a standard drink is: 5 oz/142 mL of wine (12% alcohol) or 1.5 oz/43 mL of spirits (40% alcohol) or 12 oz/ 341 mL of regular strength beer
  • Never drink and drive -- or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
  • Don't start drinking for health reasons. To keep your heart healthy, eat better, exercise more and don't smoke.

You may have heard that alcohol is good for your heart. What you may not have heard is that:

  • The health benefits of alcohol apply mainly to people over the age of 45. A little goes a long way. In most cases, one drink of beer, wine or liquor every other day is enough.
  • For most people, more than two drinks a day does more harm than good.
  • Women who have more than nine drinks a week have higher rates of cancer and other problems than women who drink less.
  • Men who have more than fourteen drinks a week also have higher rates of alcohol-related problems.
  • Young people have very low rates of heart disease but very high rates of alcohol-related injuries and death.
  • If you want to improve your health, you're better off eating a healthier diet, getting more exercise, and giving up smoking, rather than drinking more or starting to drink.

The Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines were developed by a team of medical and social researchers from the University of Toronto and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. They have been endorsed by the following organizations:

The attached links provide resources that will help organizations/individuals find ways to encourage others to Limit Alcohol!