Alcohol Consumption Guidelines

Information is gleaned from Australian Government websites including: www.alcohol.gov.au Double click on any word in the text on this page to obtain a dictionary meaning.

Alcohol Use Guidelines

Drink in moderation

In everyday use alcohol, usually refers to drinks such as beer, wine, or spirits containing ethyl alcohol - a substance that can cause drunkenness and changes in consciousness, mood, and emotions. It is these intoxicating and psychoactive effects that lead to so many accidents, injuries, diseases, and disruptions in the family life of everyday Australians.

Due to the different ways that alcohol can affect people, there is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe for everyone. People choosing to drink must realise that there will always be some risk to their health and social well-being. However, there are ways to minimise the risks. This site is designed to give Australians a basic knowledge and understanding about alcohol and its consequences in order to make informed decisions so they might minimise the risk of alcohol-related harms.

Australian Alcohol Guidlines

Count what you drink

A standard drink is any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol . One standard drink always contains the same amount of alcohol regardless of container size or alcohol type (ie, beer, wine, or spirit).

Standard Drinks

Wine, Beer and Spirits mix

Risks

Long and Short Term

In the Short Term, the risk to people’s health and social well-being comes from occasional drinking episodes that are confined into a single day. Short Term harms include injuries from violence, accidents, falls, having unprotected sex, and alcohol poisoning.

In the Long Term, the risk to people’s health and social well-being is associated with regular and repeated daily drinking, defined by the total number of standard drinks per week. Long Term harms include diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and brain damage.

Guidlines At A Glance

Men & Women Have

For Men:
No more than FOUR STANDARD DRINKS per day on average and no more than SIX STANDARD DRINKS on any one day and have one or two ALCOHOL FREE days each week.

For Women:
Because women metabolise alcohol differently to men the guidelines recommend no more than TWO STANDARD DRINKS a day on average and no more than FOUR STANDARD DRINKS on any one day and one or two ALCOHOL FREE days each week.