How to reduce long-term harm

When someone drinks too much alcohol on a regular basis, it increases the chances of long-term health problems like cancer, heart disease, stroke and liver disease.

For those who choose to drink alcohol, the best way to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm is to reduce the amount they drink and follow the low-risk drinking guidelines.

Tips to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm in the long-term:

	Limit your drinks to the low-risk drinking guidelines.
	Track how much you drink on a daily and weekly basis.
	Have no more than two drinks per week.
	Have no more than one “standard” drink per hour and no more than two drinks in any 3-hour period.
	Eat before your drink and while you are drinking. This will help slow the processing of alcohol in your body. .
	Plan two or more non-drinking days each week so you do not develop the habit.
	Do not mix alcohol with prescription medications or drugs. Alcohol can make the medications less effective or too strong and can cause serious harm.
	Talk to a friend or family member about helping you stick to your limit.

Click here for information on times when ZERO drinking is safest.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, talk to a friend, family member, counsellor, or Elder, about what you’re going through. For more help click here.