Act
Responsibly
Promoting a balanced lifestyle & empowering you to make informed choices
For some adults in some cultures, enjoying a beer, spirits, or wine can be an important part of their social lives. Many lifestyle choices carry potential risks and benefits. While some people choose not to drink, health authorities in many countries have developed drinking guidelines to help those who choose to drink make informed choices about their drinking.
We do not recommend that anyone drink alcohol for health benefits. However, for adults who choose to drink and are of legal drinking age, moderate drinking can be part of well-balanced lifestyle.
Alcohol is a social enabler and in moderation it can be safely enjoyed as part of a balanced lifestyle that includes good eating and exercise.
However, drinking too much, either on one occasion or over time, presents some risks you need to be aware of.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to live a balanced lifestyle.
Moderate drinking can be a part of
a well-balanced lifestyle
The strength of an alcoholic drink is defined by the amount of pure alcohol (ethanol) it contains as a percentage of its total volume. This measure is called alcohol by volume, or ABV. In some countries, this percentage is also called “degrees” of alcohol.
There is no universal standard drink size, but some countries use a “standard unit” that contains a defined amount of pure alcohol in order to make people aware of how much alcohol they are drinking. The amount of alcohol contained in a standard unit may vary from one country to another. This standard unit contains the same amount of pure alcohol, whether you are drinking beer, wine or spirits.
The amount of pure alcohol (ABV) in a drink & the serving size
It takes an average adult approximately 1 hour to process one unit of alcohol. National drinking guidelines offer quantitative recommendations on drinking levels. You can find out if your country has issued drinking guidelines on the IARD Policy Table
You can also assess your alcohol consumption by taking the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
Those with specific questions about their own drinking are encouraged to consult their healthcare professionals. Together, they can determine what is best, based on individual risk factors, including family history, genetics, and lifestyle. For some people, the better choice may be to not drink at all.
Children and people under the legal drinking age should not drink at all!
What is Responsible Drinking?
GET THE RIGHT INFORMATION
Always take the time to get the right information about drinking and how it might affect you. It will help you reduce your risk of harm and increase your enjoyment by knowing when and how much to drink, when to stop drinking, and when not to drink at all. Always respect other people’s choices about whether to drink or not.
Children and people under the legal drinking age should not drink at all!
Always take the time to get the right information about drinking and how it might affect you. It will help you reduce your risk of harm and increase your enjoyment by knowing when and how much to drink, when to stop drinking, and when not to drink at all. Always respect other people’s choices about whether to drink or not.
Children and people under the legal drinking age should not drink at all!
DRINK
MODERATELY
Light and moderate drinking in accordance with the official drinking guidelines and recommendations that exist in many countries, can be part of a well-balanced lifestyle for adults
RESPECT
THE LAW
Responsible drinking also means knowing and respecting the laws that apply in your country. Remember, it is against the law for young people below the Legal Purchase Age (LPA) or Legal Drinking Age (LDA) to obtain alcohol. People who are driving should avoid drinking. This is why most countries have set a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit for driving that should be strictly complied with.
Responsible drinking also means knowing and respecting the laws that apply in your country. Remember, it is against the law for young people below the Legal Purchase Age (LPA) or Legal Drinking Age (LDA) to obtain alcohol. People who are driving should avoid drinking. This is why most countries have set a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit for driving that should be strictly complied with.
AVOID
HARM
When you are having a drink, do not take unnecessary risks and avoid any drinking pattern that is likely to harm you or other people, like heavy and binge drinking. Also consider the impact your drinking may have on various activities such as driving, performance at work and how you interact with other people
When you are having a drink, do not take unnecessary risks and avoid any drinking pattern that is likely to harm you or other people, like heavy and binge drinking. Also consider the impact your drinking may have on various activities such as driving, performance at work and how you interact with other people
Acting responsibly while drinking?
- Be sure of your local drinking age
- Learn how alcohol affects you as an individual
- Plan a safe way home before you go
- Keep in mind that medications + alcohol are not a good mix (and sometimes even dangerous)
- Enjoy a full meal and drink plenty of water
- Remember that younger friends and friends with low self-confidence watch you continually, you should lead by example
- Don’t give your friends a hard time if they choose not to drink – ever
- Stick to a standard pour
- Pace yourself
- When you are hosting also serve food and non-alcoholic drinks and make sure no one is over served
- Understand alcohol affects men and women differently
- Remember that drinking and driving is never a good idea (forget about your car, motorbike, bike or scooter).
- Make sure all your friends get home safely
- Know that only time will bring your BAC down – and it can continue to go up for 30 mins after you stop drinking