As we get into the holiday season, the Grey Bruce Health Unit hopes you'll Rethink Your Drinking. Almost 25% of Grey Bruce residents age 12 and over are heavy drinkers, defined as having five or more alcoholic drinks on one occasion, once a month or more. Rethink Your Drinking encourages moderation or low-risk drinking to reduce the risks associated with alcohol.

"Drinking too much, too often is a concern," says Jason Weppler, Health Promoter with the Grey Bruce Health Unit. "People often don't know the consequences of over-drinking, both short and long-term."

During a night of celebration, it's easy to lose track of how many drinks you've had. Continuous drinking can increase short and long-term risks. The most common short-term risk of heavy drinking is a 'hangover' – headache, fatigue and nausea. However, more serious risks include:

• Alcohol poisoning

• Violence and injuries (car crashes, falls, fights)

• Risky sexual behaviour

• Poor or regrettable decisions

• Problems with finances, work or school

There are many long-term health effects of heavy drinking, including liver cirrhosis, heart problems and cancer. Canada's Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines help adults who choose to drink to make informed choices about their alcohol consumption. The Guidelines recommend:

• Women consume no more than 10 drinks a week and no more than two drinks a day most days; and

• Men consume no more than 15 drinks a week and no more than three drinks a day most days.

For special occasions, the Guidelines recommend no more than three drinks at any one time to help limit harm from alcohol consumption.

"These guidelines are limits, not goals – less is always more," says Weppler. "And it doesn't work to save all of your drinks for the weekend." There is no such thing as 'risk-free' drinking, but the Guidelines can lower your risk.

The Health Unit's Rethink Your Drinking campaign is designed to promote the Canadian Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines and help change the way we think about and use alcohol. For more information, visit www.rethinkyourdrinking.ca.Re