|
Country |
Source |
Men |
Women |
Standard Drink |
Suggested/Other |
|
Australia |
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) http://www.nhmrc.gov.au and Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing http://www.alcohol.gov.au
|
No more than 4 standard drinks a day, on average
And never more than 6 standard drinks in one day. |
No more than 2 standard drinks a day, on average
And never more than 4 standard drinks in one day. |
10g |
Everyone should have 1 or 2 alcohol-free days every week.
Please note that the guidelines are currently under review by the NHMRC in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The revised draft, Australian Alcohol Guidelines for Low-risk Drinking, is now available for public consultation (the draft advises that both men and women limit their alcohol consumption to 2 standard drinks or less in any one day and states that “not drinking is the safest option” for youths aged under 15 years and women who are pregnant, are planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding). Progress on the revised guidelines can be traced at: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/consult/index.htm. |
|
Austria |
Bundesministerium fur Arbeit, Gesundheit und Soziales (Federal Ministry for Labour, Health and Social Affairs) http://www.bmsg.gv.at/ |
24g pure ethanol per day |
16g pure ethanol per day |
10g |
In addition the hazardous limit (unacceptable risk for health consequences) is defined with 40g / 60g alcohol. |
|
Canada |
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health |
not to exceed 2 units per day (27.2g/day); not to exceed 14 units per week (190g/week) |
not to exceed 2 units/day (27.2g/day); not to exceed 9 units per week (12g/week) |
13.6g |
Low risk drinking guidelines:
http://www.camh.net/addiction/pims/pdfs/lowrisk_drinking.pdf
Note: the drinking guidelines do not apply to pregnant women (Source: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, CAMH) |
|
Health Canada (Sante Canada) |
|
|
|
Moderate drinking means no more than 1 drink a day, and no more than 7 drinks a week. More than 4 drinks on one occasion, or more than 14 drinks a week is a risk to health and safety.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, avoid alcohol. |
|
Czech Republic |
National Institute of Public Health http:www.szu.cz |
Less than 24g per day |
Less than 16g per day |
|
The recommendations are for adults (over 18), who are healthy (without disease) and not engaged in risky behaviours or taking medication. |
|
Denmark |
Sundhedsstyrelsen [National Board of Health (NBH)] http://www.sst.dk/english/index.asp |
no more than 21 alcohol units (252g) a week |
no more than 14 (168g) units a week |
12g |
The National Board of Health recommends that children under the age of 15 should not drink |
|
Finland |
Oy Alko AB (Alko Inc.) http://www.alko.fi/ |
not to exceed 15 units/week (165g/week) |
not to exceed 10 units/week (110g/week) |
11g |
|
|
France |
Ministry of Health, Youth & Sports http://www.jeunesse-sports.gouv.fr |
not to exceed 20g/day |
not to exceed 20g/day |
12g/beer, 8g/wine |
According to « La santé vient en mangeant : le guide alimentaire pour tous », National Program for Health & Nutrition (PNNS): Those who drink should reduce their consumption. Pregnant women should not drink. Do not drink and drive. |
|
National Academy of Medicine |
not to exceed 5 units/day (60g/day) |
not to exceed 3 units/ day (36g/day) |
12g |
|
|
Hong Kong |
Department of Health & Social Security |
not to exceed 3-4 units/day, not to exceed 21units/week |
not to exceed 2-3 units/day, not to exceed 14 units/week |
1 unit = glass/wine or pint/beer |
|
|
Iceland |
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council |
|
|
|
Advice that pregnant women abstain from alcohol during pregnancy and breast feeding since no safe consumption level exists |
|
Indonesia |
Ministry of Health |
|
|
|
National Dietary Guidelines state: avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. |
|
Ireland |
Department of Health |
21 units/week (210g/week) |
14 units/week (140g/week) |
10g |
http://www.healthpromotion.ie/topics/alcohol/alcofacts/facts_about_alcohol |
|
Israel |
Ministry of Education, Psycological & Counselling Services |
|
|
|
Recommended: pregnant women not drink; students not drink more than one unit at a time; avoid alcohol if taking medication. |
|
Italy |
Ministry for Agriculture & Forestry and National Institute for Food & Nutrition |
Less than 40g per day |
Less than 40g per day |
12g |
Nutritional Guidelines: Linee guida per una sana alimentazione italiana
The acceptable daily quantity of alcohol is 0.6g per kilo of body weight. The limit not to be exceeded is 1.0g per kilo of body weight. If only wine is consumed then the guidelines suggest that less or equal to 450ml (3 glasses) for men and less or equal to 350 ml (2 glasses) for women to be divided between lunch and dinner.
Avoid consumption during evolutive age, pregnancy, breast-feeding and reduce it when in old age. Avoid alcohol before driving or when using dangerous machinery, or if undergoing drug therapy. [Legislation: Law Decree 28 Dec. 1998 converted in Law 26 Feb. 1999 n. 39 – Chapter "The aims of Health" pg. 17-18] |
|
Japan |
Ministry of Health, Labor & Welfare |
1-2 units/day (19.75-39.5g/day) |
|
19.75g |
|
|
Luxembourg |
Ministry of Health |
|
|
|
The health authorities promote moderate alcohol consumption without specifying limits of daily or weekly amounts of pure alcohol which should not be exceeded and to refrain from drinking when driving. Children and adolescents less than 16 years of age and young drivers are the main target groups. |
|
The Netherlands |
Stichting Verantwoord Alcoholgebruik (Stiva) www.stiva.nl |
not to exceed 4 units/day (39.6g/day) |
not to exceed 2 units/day (19.8g/day) |
9.9g |
Advise not to drink at least 2 days within a week. Avoid alcohol when pregnant, driving or operating machinery and if an adolescent. Women with a low body weight are advised to drink less than the recommended daily limit. |
|
New Zealand |
Alcohol Liquor Advisory Council (ALAC) |
not to exceed 3 units/day (30g/day), not to exceed 21units/ week (210g/week) |
not to exceed 2 units/day (20g/day), not to exceed 14 units/week (140g/week) |
10g |
Should not exceed 6 units/day (60g/day) for men, 4 units/day (40g/day) for women on special one time drinking occasion.
Remember alcohol-containing drinks are high in energy density and may contribute to weight gain.
Have some alcohol-free days each week.
To reduce the risk of cancer, no alcohol is recommended.
To reduce cardiovascular risk, consume only moderate amounts of alcohol.
When serving drinks, ensure non-alcoholic drinks and food are available. Provide non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages when serving alcohol. Eat food when drinking alcohol.
Restrict or avoid alcohol when driving, when operating machinery or when in the water. |
|
The Ministry of Health |
|
|
|
The "Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A background paper" recommends women to avoid drinking alcohol at all during pregnancy unless prescribed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. See http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/by+unid/F4F10903136588EFCC25716200123030?Open |
|
Norway |
Directorate for Health & Social Welfare |
|
|
|
Recommend situational abstinence, such as when driving, during pregnancy, at work or in the company of children and young people. |
|
Alkokutt http://www.alkokutt.no |
|
|
|
Allcokutt suggests: Never to drink on an empty stomach or an empty head. Give a message when someone has got enough. Show respect to people who do not drink alcohol. Remember that women do hold less alcohol than men. Listen to experienced professionals. Be on guard against drinking-pressure, even among your best friends. Remember time and place where you should not drink alcohol. Never drink alone. Quit in good time, it's never a shame to say no. Don't drink as an adolescent. |
|
Philippines |
Department of Health |
|
|
|
National Dietary Guidelines state: for a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition, exercise regularly, do not smoke and avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. |
|
Poland |
State Agency for Prevention of Alcohol Related Problems |
2 units/day (20g/day) up to 5 times/week (not to exceed 100g/week) |
1 unit/day (10g/day) up to 5 times/week (not to exceed 50g/week) |
10g |
Not official guidelines, based on WHO recommendations. Suggest two alcohol free days/week. |
|
Portugal |
National Council on Food and Nutrition |
2-3 units/day (28-42g/day) |
1-2 units/day (14-28g/day) |
14g (unofficial) |
Based only on wine consumption. |
|
Romania |
Ministry of Health |
not to exceed 32.5g beer/day or 20.7g wine/day |
not to exceed 32.5g beer/day or 20.7g wine/day |
|
|
|
Singapore |
Ministry of Health |
|
|
|
National Dietary Guidelines state: Limit alcohol intake to not more than 2 standard drinks a day (about 30g alcohol). |
|
Slovenia |
Institute of Public Health of Slovenia |
not to exceed 20g/day and not to exceed 50g/drinking occasion |
not to exceed 10g/day and not to exceed 30g/drinking occasion |
|
|
|
South Africa |
South African National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence |