How Much Alcohol Is Safe To Drink?

So how much alcohol can I safely drink?

And how much is too much?

We often get this question in clinical practice. For patients who have clear alcohol-related diseases, including liver disease, heart disease, or other alcohol-related issues, it's sometimes safest to keep off alcohol entirely. However, for most people, some alcohol is not dangerous.

The NHMRC, which is the governing health body here in Australia, suggests that we can have up to four standard drinks per day and up to ten standard drinks per week and still live a healthy life.

We do know that there are some diseases, including bowel cancer and breast cancer, which we think are more common in people who drink. Conversely, we think that a small amount of alcohol, particularly red wine, may be associated with a lower incidence of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, or even blood pressure. So there seems to be a bit of a balance. That's why our governing health body has come forward with the recommendation that a small amount of alcohol seems to be okay.

This may not be right for you, depending on if you have other medical issues related to alcohol, including liver disease, pancreas disease, heart disease, or many others. And always make sure to speak to a specialist about this.

Additional videos on a range of common conditions are available to view on the Gastroenterology Specialist Care YouTube channel.

Note, this video is not a medical consultation. Any medical information is general in nature and is not intended to provide individual clinical advice. You should contact your doctor or other healthcare professional in relation to any concerns they may have, as your own circumstances may be different.

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