Alcohol consumption guidelines
There are four alcohol consumption guidelines which have been set by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). There are two guidelines for healthy adults, one guideline for children and young people and one for pregnant or breast feeding women.
Guideline 1: Reducing the risk of alcohol-related harm over a lifetime.
“For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.”
Guideline 2: Reducing the risk of injury on a single occasion of drinking.
“On single occasion for drinking, the risk of alcohol-related injury increases with the amount consumed. For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol-related injury arising from that occasion.”
Guideline 3: Children and young people under 18 years of age.
“For children and young people under 18 years of age, not drinking alcohol is the safest option.”
Guideline 4: Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
“For women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option.”
Further details can be viewed in the NHMRC guideline
Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
Last reviewed 29 September 2010