What is a standard drink?
A Canadian standard drink contains 17.05mL (0.5765oz)
1 of pure ethanol.
Learning to count drinks?
- 340 mL bottle of light beer (3.7% alcohol) = 0.7 standard drinks
- 355 mL can of extra strength beer (8% alcohol) = 1.7 standard drinks
- 500 mL can of cider (4.5% alcohol) = 1.3 standard drinks
- 750 mL bottle of wine (12% alcohol) = 5.3 standard drinks
- 9 oz glass of wine (14% alcohol) = 2.1 standard drinks
- 2 oz shot of spirits (40% alcohol) = 1.3 standard drinks
As of Jan 2023, Canada has updated its
Guidance on Alcohol and Health. Unlike the previous guidelines from 2011, the new guidelines define a 'continuum of risk associated with weekly alcohol' rather than a recommended maximum number of drinks per week.
The harms are defined as:
- 2 standard drinks or less per week — You are likely to avoid alcohol-related consequences for yourself or others at this level.
- 3–6 standard drinks per week — Your risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast and colon cancer, increases at this level.
- 7 standard drinks or more per week — Your risk of heart disease or stroke increases significantly at this level.
- Each additional standard drink radically increases the risk of alcohol-related consequences.
- Consuming more than 2 standard drinks per occasion is associated with an increased risk of harms to self and others, including injuries and violence.
Developed by:
Note: The mathematical formula for calculating a standard drink using millilitres (mL) is: ((container volume in mL x % alcohol by volume)/(17.05mL of ethanol))/100
1 Ounces (oz) are Imperial fluid ounces (rather than US fluid ounces).