Is one alcoholic drink a day considered moderate drinking for generally healthy adults, considering factors like age, sex, body weight, and potential interactions with common medications? Also, how do different countries and major health organizations (like the WHO, AHA, and national health agencies) define “moderate drinking,” and are there any documented long-term health benefits associated with this level of alcohol consumption that outweigh the potential risks?
Answer
For men, moderate drinking is defined as up to two alcoholic drinks per day, and for women, it is defined as up to one alcoholic drink per day. Therefore, one alcoholic drink a day is considered moderate drinking for both men and women.
What counts as one drink:
- Beer: 12 fluid ounces (355 milliliters) of regular beer (about 5% alcohol)
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces (148 milliliters) of wine (about 12% alcohol)
- Distilled spirits (hard liquor): 1.5 fluid ounces (44 milliliters) of distilled spirits (about 40% alcohol). Examples include gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey.
It is important to note that these are guidelines and not recommendations. Some individuals should not drink alcohol at all, including those who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, those under the legal drinking age, those with certain medical conditions, those taking medications that interact with alcohol, and those recovering from alcohol use disorder.
Even within the bounds of "moderate drinking," the health effects can vary significantly depending on individual factors such as age, sex, body weight, genetics, and overall health.