Drinking Guidelines (Around the World)

Yes, that’s right, drinking guidelines, meaning how much alcohol, exactly, is not recommended. Science Daily reports on a recent study published in the journal Addiction, showing that notions of excessive drinking vary wildly (by 250 percent) from country to country. Of 75 countries examined, only 37 even provided low-risk drinking guidelines and a definition of a ‘standard drink’. The lowest idea of a standard drink (found in Iceland and the United Kingdom) is 8 grams of pure ethanol, equal to 8.45 US fluid ounces of 4 percent beer, 2.57 oz of 13 percent wine, or 0.85 oz of 40 percent spirits. The highest idea of a standard drink (found in Austria) is 20 grams. The researchers found that in the most conservative countries, low-risk consumption means drinking no more than 10 grams of pure ethanol per day for women, 20 grams for men. Thirsty? Move to Chile, where you can drink 56 grams per day and still be a low-risk drinker. They also found that in Australia, Grenada, Portugal, and South Africa, low-risk drinking guidelines are the same for women and men. And what about the World Health Organization? Their definition of a standard drink as 10 grams of pure ethanol, with both men and women advised not to exceed 2 standard drinks per day.