What Is Alcohol?
Alcohol, also known as ethanol, is a legal substance known for its psychoactive properties. It is produced by fermenting or distilling produce or grains. Fermented beverages include beer, cider, wine and flavoured purified alcohol, which range from 0.5% to 20% alcohol by volume (ABV). Distilled beverages, often called spirits, include products such as vodka and whisky, which usually are 25% ABV and higher.
Many social gatherings feature alcoholic beverages. Nevertheless, the consumption of alcohol carries a risk of adverse health and social consequences related to its intoxicating, toxic and dependence-producing properties. To avoid harms, people in Canada who choose to drink should follow Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (on Drink Less Live More.ca) which replaced Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.
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Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health
CCSA proudly led the initiative to update Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines (LRDGs). The project, funded by Health Canada, began in July 2020.
The two-and-a-half-year process culminated in the creation of Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, which replaces the LRDGs. Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health provides people living in Canada with the information they need to make well-informed and responsible decisions about their alcohol consumption
Highlights
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Communications Toolkit
This toolkit contains CCSA resources related to Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health that are available to your organization at no cost. We invite you to use the resources to help promote Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health and amplify the key messages.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear, concise responses to the most asked questions. We've gathered the most common inquiries and provided straightforward answers to help you navigate with confidence.
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Supporting Documents
This section brings together the foundational materials that informed the development of Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health. From technical reports and expert reviews to public-facing summaries and infographics, these documents provide the evidence base, context, and rationale behind the recommendations.
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Establishing Rapport to Discuss Alcohol Use
The clinician takes a non-judgmental and motivational stance, setting the stage for asking a patient to identify specific problems related to alcohol use.
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Exploring Reasons for Drinking; Building Ambivalence
The clinician asks the patient to identify benefits associated with alcohol use. The clinician then contrasts these felt benefits with the problems noted earlier in order to increase the patient's ambivalence.
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Guidance, Tools and Resources
CCSA produces research-based publications, tools, and resources to support evidence-based decision-making on substance use health issues. Select your area of interest from the categories below to learn more:
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Substances
CCSA produces a variety of substance use- and addiction-related publications for researchers, policy makers and health service providers. We provide guidance to decision makers through harnessing the power of research, collecting and organizing knowledge, and bringing together diverse perspectives.
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Health and Public Safety
CCSA conducts research, develops tools and resources, and produces targeted materials to support evidence-based decisions and public policy. Review our key resources on health and public safety in relation to substance use health and addiction issues.
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People and Communities
CCSA is dedicated to the health and well-being of individuals and communities, focusing on the impact of substance use across the lifespan, the perspectives of people with lived experience, and the roles of stigma, sex and gender, and educators in substance use health.
Latest CCSA Updates
Our Response: Why economists should like booze
As a research scientist in epidemiology and health economics, with a focus on alcohol and other substances, I found your article comparing alcohol non-users to free-riders to be light on fact and…
As a research scientist in epidemiology and health economics, with a focus on alcohol and other substances, I found your article comparing alcohol non-users to free-riders to be light on fact and…
