This Movember, Island Health raises a non-alcoholic glass to mental and physical health by increasing awareness around alcohol, especially for men.
Drinking less alcohol is better for overall health – any reduction is beneficial and can reduce harms. Less alcohol can mean better sleep, more energy and improved mood. It can also help lower the risk of long-term health and social problems.
“We encourage men who drink alcohol to drink less during Movember and beyond,” says Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health’s chief medical health officer and vice president of Population & Public Health. “Drinking less alcohol improves your health – learn more about Canada’s updated drinking guidance and find out how you can reduce your risk.”
According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA), “Men drink more alcohol than women and are more likely to drink in excess” – which also means they are likelier to experience serious consequences including impaired-driving crashes, hospitalizations, deaths, violent incidents and more.
The health impacts of alcohol are many. It is a main cause of liver disease and poses risks for cardiac-related diseases, including heart failure and high blood pressure. Alcohol can also cause several types of cancer, including colon and liver cancer. In the Island Health region, alcohol-related hospital admissions are higher for men than women, and overall admissions are higher in Island Health compared to provincial and national levels.
Alcohol is a depressant and can contribute to mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. It can also result in aggressive behaviour, including intimate partner violence and violence between adults, notes the CCSA.
The benefits of drinking less are clear. Doing so can save you money, increase your energy, and boost your overall well-being and health.
Check out these tips to help reduce the risks:
- Match every alcoholic drink you have with a non-alcoholic drink
- Check out low-alcohol/non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits – and mix yourself a delicious mocktail!
- Eat and drink water before and while drinking alcohol
- Have alcohol-free days, weeks and months
For more information and resources, please visit:
- Alcohol: Drinking and Your Health and Alcohol Use (HealthLinkBC)
- HelpStartsHere (Government of British Columbia)
- Alcohol and Your Health (Island Health)
- Mental Health & Substance Use Services (Island Health)
- Service Link: 1-888-885-8824 (Island Health)