Canadians deserve up to date health guidance on alcohol
January is a time when many Canadians reflect on their health. We commit to getting in shape, to eating better. Many people participate in Dry January, going alcohol-free for the month. But permanently cutting back on alcohol is far less common. Perhaps this is because Health Canada’s guidance hasn’t kept pace with the science.
At best, the lag between guidance and science distorts the meaning of “low-risk” alcohol consumption. And at worst, it tacitly encourages much higher alcohol-use than what the evidence says is safe.
In the age of misinformation, Canadians need credible sources of health guidance. The federal government must update its alcohol guidelines so people can make informed decisions.
Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen (the same category as tobacco and asbestos) and is linked to at least nine types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, liver and oral cancers. Several recent, large studies have shown that cancer risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, and that even small amounts are harmful over time.
With decades of evidence in-hand, the World Health Organization finally declared in 2023 that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. That same year, Health Canada funded replacement guidelines for its previous version, developed in 2011.
But the old guidelines were never fully retired, creating contradictory official advice.
Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines, which are endorsed by Health Canada and published on the Government of Canada’s website, define “low-risk consumption” as ten standard drinks a week for women, and 15 for men. In contrast, the up-to-date 2023 guidelines issued by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) define low-risk consumption as two standard drinks per week or less.
A closer look at the 2023 guidelines reveals the rigor with which they were developed. They are the result of a two-and-a-half-year process that brought together experts from across the country, and are informed by worldwide research, mathematical modelling, and extensive consultations.
Since their release, the guidelines have been widely endorsed by national health organizations and recognized as a step toward aligning public alcohol guidance with the science on cancer risk.
Confusingly, the development of CCSA’s guidelines was funded by Health Canada with the intention that they would replace Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines. But three years later, the federal government hasn’t fully adopted or consistently communicated the new guidance, and its website still reflects recommendations from 15 years ago.
Alcohol is responsible for nearly 7,000 cases of cancer and more than 3,200 cancer deaths in Canada each year. Drinking contributes to many other chronic diseases, including kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.
On top of the individual health effects, the societal cost of alcohol is high. An estimated $16 to 20 billion annually is spent on healthcare, lost productivity and law enforcement linked to alcohol-use. In Ontario alone, alcohol-related emergency room visits increased by more than 24,000 in just two years following retail expansion of alcohol to grocery stores. In British Columbia, a 20 per cent increase in retail alcohol outlets was linked to a 3.25 per cent rise in deaths.
These are all preventable harms, and they could be minimized if Canadians had access to clear, evidence-based information.
A 2025 study reports that Canadians who do drink alcohol consume on average more than 13 standard drinks every week. In light of what we now know, this is high-risk behaviour. It’s also unsurprising given the contradictory advice on what qualifies as low-risk drinking.
By aligning the guidance and prioritizing awareness, we can empower people in Canada to make choices that reduce harm, lower cancer risk and build healthier communities. Canadians have the right to know, and that right must be delivered.
Andrea Seale is the CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society.
