New Australian Alcohol Guidelines - the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol were released on 6 March 2009.
The key changes include the following revised guidelines:

Guideline 1

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than two standard drinks on any day reduces the lifetime risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.

Guideline 2

For healthy men and women, drinking no more than four standard drinks on a single occasion reduces the risk of alcohol related injury arising from that occasion.

Guideline 3

3A Parents and carers should be advised that children under 15 years of age are at the greatest risk of harm from drinking and that for this age group, not drinking alcohol is especially important.
3B For young people aged 15–17 years the safest option is to delay the initiation of drinking for as long as possible.

Guideline 4

4A For women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, not drinking is the safest option. 
4B For women who are breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option.

Alcohol has a complex role in Australian society. Most Australians drink alcohol, generally for enjoyment, relaxation and sociability, and do so at levels that cause few adverse effects. However, a substantial proportion of people drink at levels that increase their risk of alcohol-related harm. For some, alcohol is a cause of significant ill health and hardship. In many countries, including Australia, alcohol is responsible for a considerable burden of death, disease and injury. Alcohol-related harm to health is not limited to drinkers but also affects families, bystanders and the broader community.

NHMRC intends Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol to establish the evidence base for future policies and community materials on reducing the health risks that arise from drinking alcohol. It is about helping you to help your patients reduce the risks to their health from drinking alcohol.

Of course, how much your patients drink is their choice. But the NHMRC hope these guidelines will help you to help your patients make an informed choice and also help health agencies guide the community in reducing health risks. Click on the following links to view and download the indicated resources:

• Download the Australian Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol
• Summary of the Guidelines
• Alcohol FAQ
• The Australian standard drink

Alternatively you can view and download the new guidelines, including a summary, FAQs and standard drink guide by clicking on the following link at:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/your_health/healthy/alcohol/index.htm

Information and resources relating to the new guidelines will soon be available on www.alcohol.gov.au from late April 2009.

For more information contact:

Project Officer: Karen Frost
Phone: 8752 4910