Alcohol is a part of many people's lives. You might see it at celebrations, in sports, or on social media.
Even though alcohol is common, it can affect your health and your community in ways you may not expect.
The good news: drinking less can improve your health. Small reductions can help.
What alcohol does to your body
Evidence shows that alcohol can harm your body.
It can:
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Affect your brain, mood, and focus
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Disrupt sleep and lower your energy
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Increase your risk of cancer
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Impact your heart, liver, and pancreas
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Weaken your immune system
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Increase the risk of injury and mental health challenges
You don't need to drink a lot to experience these effects.
Any amount of alcohol carries some risk.
Learn more about how alcohol impacts your health
Learn what the latest national guidance says about alcohol, risk, and how drinking affects your health.
Understand how alcohol impacts your health, costs, and calories and what you could gain by cutting back.
Get clear, trusted information about alcohol use, health effects, and when to reach out for support.
Why alcohol feels so normal
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When alcohol shows up a lot, it can start to feel normal or expected without us realizing it.
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These messages are designed to sell products, even when those products cause harm.
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Noticing where alcohol shows up in our lives can help us see how our surroundings influence our behaviour. Awareness empowers us to push back against the influences.
Help create a healthier culture
We can all help create spaces that support people’s efforts to drink less or not at all.
Actions you can take:
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Reduce alcohol content you see on social media by unfollowing or muting accounts that heavily promote it.
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Talk about alcohol more openly, including its effects on health, stress, and sleep.
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Plan social activities that don't revolve around alcohol.
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Question why alcohol companies sponsor kids’ sports teams and community events.
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Ask your local government to support more community events that do not involve alcohol.
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Visit Gov Together BC to see when new provincial consultations open. Share your views on putting health first in alcohol-related policies.
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Support alcohol warning labels through federal Bill S‑202.
Are you a local government looking for resources? Learn about alcohol control policies
Visit See Alcohol Differently to learn more about how alcohol influences everyday life and what we can do about it.
This work is endorsed by all chief medical health officers in BC.
Looking for support? Help is available.
Talk to a health care team, they can help you decide the next steps. 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. 7 days a week.