Japan's First Alcohol Consumption Guidelines Announced: "Men 2 Beers (500ml Each), Women 1 Beer"

No Decrease in Alcohol Dependence Patients
Specify Drinking Capacity and Drinking Habits in Detail

The Japanese government has announced guidelines presenting an appropriate alcohol consumption level for the first time, aiming to prevent health problems caused by alcohol. Although a culture of avoiding drinking is spreading mainly among people in their 30s in Japan, leading to a decrease in per capita alcohol consumption, the number of patients with alcohol dependence has not significantly declined, causing growing concern among health authorities.

On the 23rd, Asahi Shimbun reported that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan had prepared the country's first-ever "Guidelines on Drinking with Consideration for Health" the previous day. According to the MHLW, the amount of pure alcohol that increases the risk of alcohol dependence, lifestyle-related diseases (adult diseases), liver diseases, and cancer is 20g per day and 150g per week, and consumption beyond these amounts is prohibited.

Twenty grams of pure alcohol corresponds to one 500ml glass of beer or about one hop of sake. The guidelines also set different conditions based on gender: the MHLW specifies that men who exceed 40g per day and women who exceed 20g per day have a higher risk of developing adult diseases. This means that drinking more than two 500ml glasses of beer per day for men and more than one glass for women can harm health.

The MHLW noted that the effects of alcohol vary by gender and age, stating, "Women and elderly people have relatively less body water, making them more susceptible to the effects of alcohol." It added, "Even small amounts of alcohol increase the risk of hypertension, male esophageal cancer, and female stroke," emphasizing that "it is important to keep alcohol consumption as low as possible."

Asahi analyzed that these guidelines were created considering the unchanging number of patients with alcohol dependence. According to a patient survey by the MHLW, the number of alcohol dependence patients in Japan was 46,000 in 2017, showing no decrease from 47,000 in 1996. Meanwhile, in 2013, the Japanese government established a plan to promote measures based on the "Basic Law on Alcohol Health Damage Countermeasures" and had been calling for the enactment of specific and easy-to-understand drinking guidelines, including recommended drinking amounts.

In addition to presenting appropriate drinking levels, the MHLW also specified types of drinking to avoid. The guidelines explicitly mention "drinking more than 60g of alcohol (three 500ml glasses of beer)," "drinking to relieve anxiety or insomnia," and "drinking after taking medication."

Furthermore, the guidelines include advice on drinking habits, such as "when drinking, one should check their current situation," "avoiding pressuring others to drink excessively," and "being careful to prevent drinking from leading to violence or verbal abuse."