The duration of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has challenged many Albertans and caused a widespread disruption to our daily lifestyles, impacting the way we eat, sleep, socialize and work, among other things. These impacts may also extend to our alcohol consumption habits.
In 2021, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ (AGLC) annual Survey of Albertans reported that 92 per cent of Albertans are consuming alcohol responsibly, with 69 per cent being moderate drinkers and 23 per cent non-drinkers. These are encouraging results and similar to numbers found in previous surveys. While there is also information circulating about increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic, there are reports of more people moving towards non-alcoholic drinks.
While all this information seems conflicting about where overall alcohol consumption is trending, there is no disputing that there are associated risks and harms that come with excessive alcohol use. The Canadian Centre of Substance Abuse (CCSA) has studied various alcohol-related harms and concluded that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of serious illnesses including different cancers, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and liver cirrhosis.
What does drinking responsibly mean? While many people have a different definition of responsible or moderate alcohol consumption for themselves, there are standard guidelines to consider. Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines recommend no more than two drinks a day or 10 per week for women, and three drinks a day or 15 per week for men. One of the reasons it’s recommended that women drink less than men is because women metabolize alcohol less efficiently, and therefore absorb more alcohol into their bloodstream.
How do we become more mindful of how much alcohol we should be consuming? AGLC’s DrinkSense program is a free, one-stop online resource for evidence-based information on drinking alcohol responsibly, minimizing risks and understanding alcohol-related harms. You can find simple tips on mindful ways to manage your alcohol consumption like drinking water between drinks, pouring smaller drinks, planning non-drinking days every week to avoid developing a habit and many other helpful suggestions.
Have questions about the actual dollar amount you are spending on alcohol, or how many calories you’re ingesting with certain drinks? AGLC’s DrinkSense calculator is a handy tool that helps track your alcohol consumption for financial and health reasons. There are also resources available from Alberta Health on a wide variety of topics ranging from alcohol in adolescents to seniors and mental health, just to name a few.
Drinking in moderation is key to reducing health and societal risks associated with alcohol. Education and awareness on alcohol consumption are important tools in helping all of us lead healthy lifestyles, regardless of whether we are in or out of a pandemic.
AGLC wants every choice about alcohol consumption to be an informed one and encourages Albertans to explore the numerous resources available on enjoying alcohol responsibly and consuming mindfully. If you or someone you know requires more help with alcohol consumption, please contact the Alberta Health Services Addiction Line at 1-866-332-2322 for 24-hour support or visit albertahealthservices.ca/amh.
Eric Baich is the social responsibility director at AGLC.