NEW RESOURCE: Why should I assess my drinking habits?
Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia (CMHAA)
Together in the business of workplace mental health.
The ‘social drink’ is enmeshed in Australian culture, but when does enjoying the odd drink tip over into something you should be concerned about? This can be a difficult question to answer.
Current Australian guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council say “responsible drinking is about balancing your enjoyment of alcohol with the potential risks and harm that may arise from drinking – especially if you go beyond low risk drinking levels”. If you feel your alcohol consumption has become problematic, it might be time to assess your drinking habits.
EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS
Excessive alcohol consumption can be defined as the consumption of more than four drinks on any one day for men, or more than three drinks for women. Other factors, such as weight, overall health, frequency of alcohol consumption and other drug use, both legal and illicit, will affect your ‘excessive drinking’ threshold. While some evidence suggests a small amount of red wine each day might have some health benefits, it’s clear that excessive drinking leads to detrimental health effects. From poor sleep and lowered immunity to bowel cancer and cirrhosis, the short- and longterm effects of alcohol abuse can wreak havoc on your body.
To read more about assessing your drinking habits, please visit the CMHAA website to read the full resource: RESOURCE: Why should I assess my drinking habits? - CMHAA
We would like to thank Centre for Corporate Health and Commonwealth Bank for their assistance in the compilation of this factsheet.
This resource is not and should not be considered as advice or support. Anyone who may have a need for such support should seek professional advice. This information is provided for CMHAA and is provided for general information purposes only.