"Only Two Beers a Week" Canada Effectively Recommends 'Abstinence'

Canadian health authorities have sparked controversy by issuing health guidelines that effectively recommend abstaining from alcohol for their citizens.

On the 18th (local time), according to the British daily 'The Guardian,' the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) stated that "even moderate drinking can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke, and other serious health risks," and recommended reducing alcohol consumption as a health guideline.

[Image source=Pixabay]

The new recommended alcohol intake issued by the CCSA, under the Canadian Ministry of Health, corresponds to one 355ml glass of 5% beer, one 148ml glass of 12% wine, or one shot of 40% spirits.

The CCSA explained that if such drinking occasions occur two times or fewer per week, the risk to health is considered low.

Peter Butt, a family medicine professor at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada and a panel member involved in drafting the recommendations, explained the reason for establishing the new health guidelines: "We wanted to present evidence to the public."

Professor Butt emphasized, "The public will be able to reflect on their drinking habits and make informed decisions. This measure is fundamentally about the right to know."

Alcohol / Photo by Yonhap News

However, there have been negative reactions within Canada regarding the CCSA's recommendations. The guidelines are considered excessively strict compared to the general alcohol consumption levels of Canadian citizens.

It is known that about 80% of Canadian adults consume alcohol.

Previously, the CCSA also issued recommendations on alcohol consumption limits in 2011. At that time, the CCSA suggested that men drink no more than 15 times per week and women no more than 10 times per week to minimize health risks.

Professor Butt addressed these complaints by explaining, "This is not a prohibition but simply a suggestion to drink less each time."

Meanwhile, this new recommendation has caused backlash among Canadians who regularly enjoy drinking, as it represents a 180-degree shift compared to 2011.

At that time, the CCSA presented guidelines indicating that men drinking up to 15 times per week and women up to 10 times per week posed lower health risks.