The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is launching a new project to update Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.

Right now, the guidelines outline recommendations for alcohol consumption to help Canadians reduce their long-term health risks. They outline the recommended limit for both men and women during the day, the week, and on special occasions.

Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines were originally published in November 2011, which makes them almost 10 years old. Since then, new research has been published on the links between alcohol use and physical, mental, and social harms. Many countries, including the U.K. and Australia, have updated their own recommendations on drinking to reflect this new research.

The CCSA is asking Canadians to provide their input on the guidelines through a short (10 minute) online survey. The feedback they get will help inform the new updates. They want to know:

• If and how Canadians are using the current alcohol drinking guidelines;
• What are some of the challenges in using the current guidelines;
• What is most useful in the current guidelines; and
• What Canadians’ needs and expectations are for the updated guidelines.

Alcohol is inextricably linked to FASD. This is your opportunity to share how the Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking guidelines impact you. The survey is open to all people in Canada. It will close on April 18, 2021.

If you have any questions about this project, please email Lauren Levett at LLevett@ccsa.ca.