If you’ve come here after searching on the topic of “moderate drinking,” it’s likely that you’re wondering about your drinking and whether or not you should cut back to reduce alcohol-related problems or risks for problems.
There is agreement in the scientific community about what defines “moderate drinking.” It’s no more than 3-4 standard drinks per drinking episode and a total of no more than 9 drinks per week for women and 12-14 per week for men.
Considering how to change your drinking to reduce alcohol-related problems or risk for problems without first deciding if you even want to change in the first place is like “putting the cart before the horse.”
A “standard drink” is a unit of measure developed to describe the approximate amount of pure alcohol in different alcoholic beverages. It offers a way to compare alcohol content across diverse drink types and sizes.
If you’ve had significant alcohol-related problems and are currently not drinking, trying moderate drinking may put you at risk again for alcohol-related problems.
This post is for those who have been working to cut back on their drinking and are not making the progress they’d hoped for. And wondering whether abstinence may be a better goal. Are you having difficulty achieving or maintaining moderation?
Your relationship with alcohol is deeply personal and unique. Not yet sure where you stand? Take our free assessment.
