DrinkSense tips for everyone
How alcohol will affect you when you drink depends on many factors, including everything from how you slept the night before and what you’ve eaten that day, to your age and family genetics. But what are some things everyone can do to reduce the risks of alcohol?
Tips for limiting alcohol for men and women?
Male and female bodies are certainly different when it comes to the effects of alcohol, but there are some common risks. Drinking alcohol can lead to greater chances of developing cancer for both men and women, as well as other major health issues including heart disease, liver and brain damage, along with stomach, skin, memory and sexual function problems to name a few.
When it comes to the social effects, drinking too much can lead to things like violence, unwanted sexual contact, STDs and unplanned pregnancy.
Before your next drink
It could be helpful to ask yourself why you're drinking. Are you drinking to:
- Enjoy a particular drink
- Loosen up at a gathering
- Just feel a little buzz
- Get a little, or a lot drunk
- Blackout wasted
The further you go down the list with drinking alcohol, the more risk you are putting yourself and others in. Visit the DrinkSense calculator to assess how your drinking stacks up.
The DrinkSense questions you need answered
Why can’t women drink as much as men?
It might sound like a myth. But, generally speaking, women are more likely to feel the effects of alcohol sooner and for longer. On average, women have smaller bodies, carry less water, and have less of the enzyme to break down alcohol than men do.
Both men and women are exposed to risks when they drink. It takes less alcohol for women to be exposed to health risks. When women drink, they have an increased risk of osteoporosis, breast and other cancers, heart disease, alcoholic hepatitis and reproductive health issues.
Can you drink while pregnant?
There is no safe amount of alcohol while pregnant. Even a small amount of alcohol could result in a miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and FASD. In addition, alcohol can even make its way into breastmilk, so it’s best to abstain from drinking altogether if you are breastfeeding.
Did you know you can tap into a support network ready and waiting for you? Learn about doing your own Dry9.
When men drink alcohol, it can cause sexual dysfunction and decrease the quality and motility of the sperm, and can have negative genetic impacts on the fetus. You can also support your loved ones during pregnancy. Become a supporter today by signing up on Dry9.
Start your Dry9Are men at greater risk for negative outcomes?
Men who drink alcohol open themselves up to a variety of risks such as cancer, heart and liver disease to name a few. In addition, men have a greater chance of violence, aggression and overall negative mental health outcomes than women. Men are statistically more likely to end their own lives and alcohol can be a contributing factor.
Men top the charts when it comes to alcohol-related deaths, hospitalizations, car wrecks and workplace accidents. Just because a male might be able to consume more alcohol than others, doesn't mean the male body can withstand the negative consequences.
DrinkSense tips for every age
Why young adults are at risk and how to avoid
Peer pressure can make drinking almost feel mandatory (hint: it isn’t). More and more, people are discovering the benefits of drinking less alcohol, and a more mindful approach to partying and hanging out with friends.
What age should you start drinking? There is no rule saying you must begin drinking at some point. If you choose to start drinking alcohol, you should always wait until you are at least 18 to try drinking, and always follow the law regarding legal drinking age wherever you are.
Quit playing games with your health
You can leave the drinking games to others. No need to make a big thing out of it.
Just leave the beer pong and cup games to other people at the party. You might just find yourself starting a movement among your friends.
The take-control checklist:
- Be mindful and drink alcohol in moderation
- Eat before, during and after you drink
- Sip slowly to space out drinks and alternate with non-alcoholic beverages
- Keep your wallet and cash somewhere secure
- Watch the bartender make your drinks
- Don’t mix alcohol with cannabis, or other drugs
- Don’t take drinks from strangers and don’t leave your drink unattended
- Don’t drink if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- Avoid intimate encounters, drunk sex may not be consensual
- Plan for a safe ride home
How to talk to teens about drinking
Like in other aspects of your child’s life, you’re their role model. So, a great place to begin is by showing them positive behaviour with alcohol. It won’t always be easy to get through to them with messages about responsible drinking, you can learn how to start these conversations with your kids.
Start the conversation
Meet them where they’re at and start the convo
Whenever it feels the most natural and when your teen is most likely to engage with you, perhaps at the dinner table, a restaurant, or out driving with them, you can try asking a few questions to get a sense for how they view alcohol and drinking in general. Even if there is no drinking in your home, they’ve likely seen it online, on a show, or at a friend’s house.
Start with the easy stuff, then the facts
Ask your teen about their views on alcohol, and their friends’ views, too. Get to know their friends and how drinking is seen among peers at school. Talk to them about your own experiences with drinking, or people you know in your life who drink alcohol, to counteract any unrealistic depictions of drinking and partying they may have seen online or on TV and in movies.
You can start talking to them about any family history of issues with alcohol, what the health effects are, laws around drinking, and impaired driving, too.
It shouldn’t be a one-off conversation, but instead something you discuss with your child many times throughout their development. Keeping an open dialogue with your child about alcohol will make it easier for them to approach you with problems and questions in the future.
Can seniors drink as much as young people?
If you’re asking yourself: “Why can’t I drink as much as I used to?” You’re not alone. Even people in their early thirties might be wondering why their hangovers are getting worse every year. And if you’re over 60, you can be certain your body will not process alcohol as quickly or efficiently as it once did.
Seniors are more sensitive to the effects and risks of alcohol. As you age, your body has less muscle mass, which means you will have less water to dilute the alcohol, and less enzymes to aid in breaking it down. This places a greater challenge on your liver and puts strain on your body.
Considering that seniors are more likely to experience other age-related health problems and are possibly on prescribed medication, you can see that the dangers of alcohol begin to compound. The risk of accidental injury and significant health issues like high blood pressure, memory loss, mood disorders, diabetes, stroke and much more can all be greatly increased when alcohol is involved.
