Menu
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have produced the Australian Alcohol Guidelines to provide information about the health risks from alcohol and share advice on how you can keep your risks low. They are based on the best available medical evidence.
Reducing your alcohol use reduces your risk of cancer.
You can read more about the guidelines and the evidence behind them below. You can also learn more about them on the NHMRC’s website.
There is no safe level of alcohol use. The evidence shows that the less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol. If you drink alcohol, these guidelines can help you make an informed decision about the amount of alcohol you drink.
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines advise that healthy adults should have no more than 10 standard alcoholic drinks a week to reduce their risk of developing cancer and other diseases.
Healthy adults should also have no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day to reduce their risk of an injury from alcohol use.
If you drink, have no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day to reduce your risk of diseases and injury.
If you drink alcohol, sticking to this guideline will keep your risk of harm from alcohol low. But it is important to know it will not remove your risk entirely. Healthy adults who drink alcohol within this guideline have less than a 1 in 100 chance of dying from a disease or injury caused by alcohol, but not no risk.
A standard drink equates to 10 grams of pure alcohol. You can learn more about standard drinks, and see how your pour lines up, on our website.
The guideline for healthy adults is based on evidence of the following:
It is important to know that everyone is different, and some people are at higher risk for alcohol-caused disease or injury. Some of these higher risks include:
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines advise that if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not drink any alcohol to prevent the risk of damage to the developing baby, and negative effects to your health.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not drink alcohol.
The guideline for when pregnant or planning a pregnancy is based on evidence of the following:
Most people don’t know the moment they become pregnant. So, if you’re planning a pregnancy, it is important to stop drinking alcohol as soon as you start trying.
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines advise that if you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for your baby.
If you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is safest for your baby.
This guideline for when breastfeeding is based on evidence of the following:
When breastfeeding, ensuring your breast milk is alcohol-free is safest for the health of your baby. If you do drink alcohol, there are strategies you can use to ensure your baby does not drink breastmilk containing alcohol.
The Australian Alcohol Guidelines advise that children and people under 18 years of age should not have any alcohol, to reduce their risk of injury and other harms to their health.
Alcohol can affect children’s and young people’s brain development and is more likely to cause them harm. There is no safe level of drinking for children and people under 18.
Children and people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol.
The guideline for children and young people is based on evidence of the following:
It’s important to do what we can to keep children and young people healthy and safe. Find out some strategies for talking with children and young people about alcohol use and harm.
Related information
To find a local GP, you can call 1800 022 222 or visit healthdirect.gov.au. To find a local psychologist, visit psychology.org.au/find-a-psychologist. If you need other support to reduce your drinking, you can contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
Will you join the community taking action on alcohol?
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
FARE acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters on which we operate throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise the continuing connection to country of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
©2024 FARE
Privacy Statement
T&C
Fill out the form below to receive regular updates & resources.
