Revising alcohol consumption guidelines : exploring the implications of new initiatives for Canada, Ireland and Malta

Abstract

Alcohol remains a serious threat to public health in many countries, including both Europe and North America. This brief commentary examines current alcohol drinking guidelines in Ireland, Malta and Canada, before examining new advice that has emerged from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA). The CCSA guideline suggests that only total abstinence from alcohol can achieve the elimination of all alcohol related cancer risk to the consumer. This guideline is in line with a recent guideline from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It is suggested that the CCSA guideline achieve wider international adoption. However, the CCSA pictogram conveying this message is critiqued for its choice of colours, on the basis of both colour blindness, and the Western cultural associations of the colour green.