Go to your local bar. Order a “standard drink.”
What does the bartender give you (other than a strange look)?
The real answer is actually dependent on the country you live in. Just about every spot on Earth has its own definition of a standard drink.
Thankfully, we have a regulator like the World Health Organization to set us straight. The WHO defines a standard drink as 10g of pure ethanol, and advises men and women to stay below two standard drinks per day.
20g of pure ethanol a day. Stay under that, and you’re what the WHO considers a “low-risk drinker,” which means you won’t experience any adverse health effects.
That’s the definition that’s most often used and most widely accepted. It doesn’t mean much though, because 50% of countries completely ignore it.
The WHO vs. the Rest of the World
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have been studying these low-risk guidelines for a while. Turns out, most countries set their own barometer for both “standard drinks” and “low risk.”
Iceland and the United Kingdom bookend one side of the equation. Their standard drink is 8g, which is between eight and nine ounces of 4% beer, or about three ounces of 13% wine.
Compare that to the United States, where men can drink up to 56g per day (the better part of a six-pack) and still be considered a low-risk drinker. Women aren’t far behind at 42g per day.
North and South of the States – in Canada and Mexico – the standard drink amount rises for special occasions. Denmark, Fiji, France, New Zealand and Poland too. Alcohol knows no gender barriers in Australia, Portugal and South Africa – the low-risk drinking guidelines don’t discriminate; they’re the same for both men and women.
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It’s all very confusing for researchers.
“There’s a substantial chance for misunderstanding,” said Keith Humphreys, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford.
“A study of the health effects of low-risk drinking in France could be misinterpreted by researchers in the United States who may use a different definition of drinking levels. Inconsistent guidelines are also likely to increase skepticism among the public about their accuracy. It is not possible that every country is correct; maybe they are all wrong.”
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
The world may be divided on the appropriate levels of alcohol consumption, but everyone seems to agree on one point – drinking too much is dangerous.
April 2016 marks the 30th year that the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month. Alcohol is one of the most prevalent and widely-used addictive substances in the world, and in the U.S., it’s responsible for more trips to the emergency room than any other drug.
It’s extremely addictive, and alcohol abuse can start young. More than 70% of kids have consumed alcohol by the end of high school, and 37% have experimented with it before graduating from the eighth grade.
Health experts recommend the following:
- Talk to your kids about the dangers of drinking – Kids who speak with their parents about alcohol are 50% less likely to abuse it, according to the NCADD.
- Avoid mixing alcohol and caffeine – Caffeine can hide drunkenness, but it doesn’t improve decision-making capabilities while intoxicated.
- Do not drink while pregnant – Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause serious damage to children.
- Drink in moderation – By controlling alcohol intake, you can reduce your risk of serious health risks.
So remember, be a low-risk drinker. Wherever you are in the world, and whatever your definition of a standard drink is, make sure to consume it responsibly.
