Dicing with the demon
New Zealand Listener|June 17-23 2023
If Canadians are being told two standard alcoholic drinks a week is the safe limit, why is NZ's guidance at least five times higher?
Nicky Pellegrino
Dicing with the demon

No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health, the World Health Organisation announced earlier this year. It went on to reveal that half the alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European region are caused by light and moderate consumption - that is, less than 1.5 litres of wine or 3.5 litres of beer or 450ml of spirits a week.

Canada has released guidelines advising people to limit themselves to no more than two standard alcoholic drinks a week. Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health says the risk of developing several types of cancer - including breast and colon - increases at three to six standard drinks a week and at seven or more drinks there is a significantly increased risk of heart disease or stroke.

Canadians are advised 3-6 standard drinks a week raises their risk of several cancers.

This is very different from the advice that continues to be given in this country by Manatū Hauora/Ministry of Health, which recommends no more than 10 standard drinks a week for women and 15 for men.

Meanwhile, alcohol-related injuries are keeping our ambulance crews and doctors busy - a report released by the Southern District Health Board in 2020 found almost one in 25 emergency department admissions was alcohol related.

Last year, a University of Otago study showed 26% of all New Zealand suicide deaths involve alcohol use. And an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease estimates 1.34 billion people worldwide consumed harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020.

Rebecca Williams, acting executive director of Alcohol Healthwatch, says for effective change to happen here it is going to take more than following in Canada's footsteps.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND LISTENERView all
First-world problem
New Zealand Listener

First-world problem

Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Applying intelligence to AI
New Zealand Listener

Applying intelligence to AI

I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Nazism rears its head
New Zealand Listener

Nazism rears its head

Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Staying ahead of the game
New Zealand Listener

Staying ahead of the game

Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Grasping the nettle
New Zealand Listener

Grasping the nettle

Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Hangry? Eat breakfast
New Zealand Listener

Hangry? Eat breakfast

People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Chemical reaction
New Zealand Listener

Chemical reaction

Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Me and my guitar
New Zealand Listener

Me and my guitar

Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Time is on my side
New Zealand Listener

Time is on my side

Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?

time-read
7 mins  |
September 9, 2024
The kids are not alright
New Zealand Listener

The kids are not alright

Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024