New Drinking Guidelines - Out Now!
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You may have heard that the Australian Government’s National Health and Medical Research Council has just released new guidelines for drinking alcohol. They aim to help you reduce your risk of disease and injuries – and they make a lot of sense. They are based on heaps of research from all over the world, and if followed, they’ll help you live long and live well.
Here are the facts. Now it’s up to you.
How do you Measure up?
Guideline 1
Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime.
The lifetime risk of harm from drinking alcohol increases with the amount consumed. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.
Guideline 2
Reducing the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking.
On a single occasion of drinking, the risk of alcohol-related injury increases with the amount consumed. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion. Each drinking occasion also contributes to the lifetime risk of alcohol-related harm.
Guideline 3
Children and young people under 18 years of age
For children and young people under 18 years of age, not drinking alcohol is the safest option.
A. Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.
B. For young people aged 15−17 years, the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.
Guideline 4
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Maternal alcohol consumption can harm the developing foetus or breastfeeding baby.
A. For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.
B. For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.
Further issues to consider
There are a number of additional factors that influence the risk of alcohol related harm, including:
• Specific situations where alcohol has the potential to endanger life; for example, when drinking is combined with activities such as driving, operating machinery or supervising children
• Groups that can be at increased risk if they drink alcohol; for example, young adults (18–25 years), older people (60+ years), people with a family history of alcohol dependence, and people who use drugs illicitly
• People who may need to seek professional advice about drinking; for example, people taking medication, people with alcohol-related or other physical conditions, and people with mental health conditions.
OUT NOW!
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For more information check out www.49.com.au
For more information about the new guidelines, go to http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_files/ds10-alcohol.pdf
Australian Guidelines To Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol March 2009, Copyright Commonwealth of Australia reproduced by permission. For more information about drugs and alcohol, go to The Australian Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au
