Overview
In Canada, a standard drink of alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol) contains 13.6 grams or 17 ml of absolute alcohol - the amount contained in a 12-ounce (341ml) bottle of regular (5%) beer, five ounces (142 ml) of (12%) table wine or 1.5 ounces (43 ml) of 80-proof liquor. Definitions of standard drinks are different in other countries. Ethanol can be synthesized or produced naturally by fermentation of fruits, vegetables or grains.
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Selected Readings
Reducing Alcohol Related Harm in Canada: Toward a Culture of Moderation (Recommendations for a National Alcohol Strategy) [PDF]
National Alcohol Strategy Working Group
National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada, April 2007
Alcohol Use and Misuse [PDF]
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), 176(5):621, February 2007
Moderate Alcohol Use and Reduced Mortality Risk: Systematic Error in Prospective Studies [PDF]
Addiction Research and Theory, U.S., 2006
Alcohol in Europe
Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), June 2006
Alcohol, other drugs, and Health: Current Evidence [PDF]
Boston Medical Center, July/August 2007
Youth and Impaired Driving in Canada: Opportunities For Progress
MADD Canada, May 2006
Preliminary Report [PDF]
Trends in First-Time Disqualifications in Saskatchewan [Word Document]
Report to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, April 2006
Alcohol [PDF]
Visions, BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information, Vol. 2, No. 9, Spring 2006
Canada's Blood Alcohol Laws - An International Perspective [PDF]
Canada Safety Council, March 2006
Alcohol Indicators Report: A Framework of Alcohol Indicators Describing the Consumption of Use, Patterns of Use and Alcohol-Related Harms in Nova Scotia [PDF]
Nova Scotia Health Promotion Addiction Services, November 2005
Study: Depression and Alcohol Dependence Among Heavy Drinkers
The Daily, Statistics Canada, August 2005
Key Messages Emerging from the National Thematic Workshop on Alcohol Policy [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), November 2004
Alcohol-Related Harms and Control Policy in Canada [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), November 2004
Alcohol Interlocks as a Condition of Licence Reinstatement [PDF]
Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF), September 2003
Low Risk Drinking Guidelines: Maximize Life, Minimize Risk
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2000
Keeping Good Company: An Employer's Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Alcohol Liability [PDF]
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, undated
Related Resources
Rethinking Drinking - Alcohol and your health, U.S.
Alcohol Concern, U.K.
Alcohol Policy Information System, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), U.S.
Alcohol Policy Network (APOLNET)
A New Focus on Alcohol, Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Éduc Alcool, Québec
MADD Canada
Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF)