What’s in Your Glass? Maybe It’s Time to Rethink Your Drinking

By Melissa Knowler

Just because it fits in one glass does not mean it’s one standard drink. With so many different sized containers and alcohol percentages, it’s not surprising that many of us don’t know how much alcohol we consume.

In January 2023, The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction released Canada’s New Guidance on Alcohol and Health, replacing the 2011 Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. This new guidance can help us make informed choices about our health and alcohol consumption by providing evidence-based information about what a standard drink is, and the alcohol-related health risks (e.g. cancer) at low, moderate, and high drinking levels.

What Is a Standard Drink?

In Canada, one standard drink = 13.45 grams or 17.05 mL of pure alcohol, which equals:

5 oz. or 142 mL of 12% wine

12 oz. or 341 mL of 5% beer or cooler/cider

1.5 oz. or 43 mL 40% spirits (e.g., vodka, gin, etc.)

Measuring our beverages and checking alcohol percentages are simple ways to become aware of how much alcohol we drink.

Alcohol and Women’s Health

In Canada, drinking alcohol is a common and socially accepted behavior. Many people drink to celebrate, socialize, cope with stress, connect with others, or forget problems. Additionally, women are heavily targeted by the alcohol industry through their advertising, reinforcing the myth that alcohol is a requirement for a good time. However, alcohol affects women differently than men. Biological factors such as body size and weight, genetics, enzyme levels, organ function, and metabolism all influence how alcohol is processed. These differences often lead to higher blood alcohol levels, faster intoxication, and greater health risks for women, including:

breast cancer,
stroke and impaired brain function,
liver disease, and
alcohol-related injuries.

Take Action

RethinkYourDrinking.ca includes valuable, judgement-free information to support those exploring their relationship with alcohol. It encourages women to talk to each other about the risks of alcohol and the benefits of reduced consumption. A simple conversation can make a big difference.

For more information about alcohol, visit www.RethinkYourDrinking.ca

REFERENCES

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. (2022). Sex, gender and alcohol. https://www.ccsa.ca/en/sex-gender-and-alcohol-what-matters-women-low-risk-drinking-guidelines-report

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. (2023). Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health: Final Report. www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2023-01/CCSA_Canadas_Guidance_on_Alcohol_and_Health_Final_Report_en.pdf

Melissa Knowler RN, BScN, BA for the Middlesex-London Health Unit