Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past & Future Releases

Excess alcohol intake is associated with many chronic diseases and conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, certain types of cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and brain damage. Alcohol is one of the most widely used drugs in Australia.

ALCOHOL RISK LEVEL(a), Consumption per day
	Males	Females
Relative risk	mls	mls
Low risk	Less than 50	Less than 25
Risky	50-75	25-50
High risk	Greater than 75	Greater than 50
(a) Based on regular consumption levels of alcohol. Source: Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2001.

The National Health and Medical Research Council provides the following guidelines to minimise both short-term and long-term risks from alcohol consumption:


FOR MEN:

• an average of no more than 4 standard drinks a day, and no more than 28 standard drinks over a week

• not more than 6 standard drinks in any one day

• one or two alcohol-free days per week.

• an average of no more than 2 standard drinks a day, and no more than 14 standard drinks over a week

• not more than 4 standard drinks in any one day

• one or two alcohol-free days per week.