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What is Alcohol?
Alcohol is a legal and regulated substance found in alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, and liquor. The type of alcohol we drink is called ethanol. It is made by fermenting sugars from fruits or grains with yeast. Alcohol affects your brain and slows down your body’s functions. It can change how you feel, think, and move.
Why Do People Use Alcohol?
You may drink alcohol for many reasons. You might drink to relax, have fun, or be social. You might drink as part of cultural traditions or celebrations. However, sometimes you might also drink to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression. While some drinking may not cause you problems, drinking more than a moderate amount may expose you to serious risks. Understanding the dangers of alcohol and knowing about safer use of alcohol is important.
Potential Harms of Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can cause serious health problems, including:
- Higher risk of cancers, liver disease, and heart problems.
- Mental health issues like depression and anxiety.
- Engaging in risky behaviors that lead to accidents, injuries, or violence.
- Developing alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
- Alcohol can also harm your family, community, and society through accidents, violence, and economic costs.
Signs That Alcohol Might Be a Problem
It can be hard to know when your drinking becomes a problem, but some warning signs include:
- Drinking more or for longer than planned.
- Being unable to cut back or stop drinking.
- Spending a lot of time getting, using, or recovering from alcohol.
- Having strong urges or cravings to drink.
- Continuing to drink despite problems at home, work, or with friends caused by alcohol.
- Failing to meet responsibilities due to drinking.
- Others are becoming concerned about your drinking.
Guidance on Safer Alcohol Use
Canada’s guidelines on alcohol use suggest that risk increases with the amount you drink:
- Low Risk: 1 to 2 drinks per week.
- Moderate Risk: 3 to 6 drinks per week.
- High Risk: 7 or more drinks per week.
The risk of harms to you become greater the more alcohol you consume. Cutting back on your use of alcohol, even by a little, can improve your health, including better sleep, improved mental health, and lower risk of disease.
You can help lower your risk of harms from alcohol by:
- Setting limits when you drink and sticking to them.
- Have one non-alcoholic drink for each alcoholic drink you have.
- Drink slowly and do not have more than two servings of alcohol in any three-hour period.
- Eat food before and while you are drinking alcohol.
- Consider your age, sex, body weight, and health conditions that might alter the effects of alcohol on you.
When Zero is the Limit
Do not drink when you are:
- Driving a vehicle or using machinery or tools
- Taking medicine or other drugs that interact with alcohol
- Doing any kind of dangerous physical activity
- Pregnant or planning to be pregnant
- Responsible for the safety of others
- Making important decisions
Support and Resources
If you are worried about your drinking or someone else’s, help is available. The Provincial Alcohol Action Plan focuses on prevention, early intervention, and support for those at higher risk. For more information and support, visit the other websites linked on this page or contact Newfoundland and Labrador Mental Health and Addictions Services via the 811 Healthline or by visiting bridgethegapp.ca.
Remember, it is okay to choose not to drink or to drink less. For advice, talk to a healthcare provider and check out the resources on this page.
Services related to this information:
- Doorways: rapid ‘one session at a time’ counselling services.
- Bridge the gapp
Newfoundland and Labrador’s ‘go-to’ website for mental health information. Bridge the gapp offers self-help resources, links to local services, and invites people to share their personal stories. Bridge the gapp is free of cost and available to every resident in the province. The site is divided into adult and youth sections, however many services are appropriate for both.- Strongest Families Children and Youth Programs and Adult Program
Free skill-based educational programs for children, youth, adults, and families seeking help to improve mental health and well-being.- Mental health and addictions services
- Contact your Public Health Nurse.
- Contact your physician/nurse practitioner
- 811 HealthLine (Newfoundland & Labrador) – Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929 / TTY 1-888-709-3555
- 811 is free and confidential. 811 is available 24/7 and can provide support with mental health and addictions issues and more.
- Services formerly offered by the Provincial Mental Health Crisis Line are now offered by 811. Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse who is also a trained crisis intervener.