Alcohol - Frequently Asked Questions

Alcohol can temporarily make you feel:

Drinking to get drunk, also known as binge drinking, can lead to alcohol poisoning.
If a person drinks rapidly, a fatal dose of alcohol can be ingested. After a person passes out, the alcohol that is still in their stomach continues to be absorbed into the blood stream. If too much alcohol enters your bloodstream, it may cause your breathing and heart rate to slow down and eventually stop.
Drinking affects your ability to make good decisions.
You increase your chance of having a major injury.
You may develop a psychological dependence on alcohol.

Beer
12 oz bottle of regular beer (5% alcohol)

Large glass of wine
5 oz glass of wine (12% alcohol)

Small glass of fortified wine
3 oz of fortified wine, such as sherry or port (18% alcohol)

A shot of liquor
1.5 oz of liquor, such as rum, rye, or vodka (40% alcohol)

Note: Some beers and coolers have more alcohol than one standard drink.

People who should not use alcohol, or who should limit their use include:

People with certain health problems, such as liver disease or certain psychiatric illnesses.
People taking certain medications, such as sedatives, sleeping pills and pain killers.
People with a personal or family history of serious drinking problems.
Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
People who are operating vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles or bicycles.
People who need to be alert, for example, while working with machinery or dangerous equipment, while engaging in challenging physical activities or when responsible for the safety of others or public order.
People who are under any legal or other restriction on drinking personally or because of the environment they're in.

Adapted from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health "Low Risk Drinking Guidelines maximize life, minimize risk"

Halton Region