Report: healthy alcohol consumption levels unknown by Aussies

If you are planning on undertaking a weight loss diet, then it might be a good idea to cut back on the amount of alcohol you consume.

Because of its high sugar content, combining a reduction in alcohol consumption with a regular exercise routine and a nutritious eating plan can be one of the best ways to increase your natural health and reduce your risk of developing conditions like heart disease.

However, there is a drinking level considered healthy by most medical professionals for those not adhering to a weight loss plan.

But it turns out that most Australians are unaware of just how low that level is.

A study carried out by the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) has revealed that 95 per cent of Australians cannot identify a safe drinking amount which avoids both short and long-term damage.

National guidelines were changed in 2009 to allow up to four standard drinks per person, to reduce the risk of harm – most respondents in the CAPR study overestimated this amount by more than half.

Speaking with The Advertiser, CAPR researcher Michael Livingstone commented on the long term damage associated with alcohol, saying that people needed to be aware of the risks associated with overconsumption.

"Drinking more than two standard drinks gives a one in 100 chance of dying from an alcohol-related cause, such as cancer", he said.

Posted by Juliet Pemberton