Alcohol can have short- and long-term effects on your health. In the short term, it can cause acute intoxication and/or increase the risk of injuries, falls, accidents, impaired driving, conflicts, violence, and decisions you may regret. To find out more about the signs of severe intoxication and what to do, see the section “What is alcohol poisoning and what are the risks?” For the risks related to driving, also see the section “Why shouldn’t I rely on how I feel to judge my blood alcohol level?”

In the long term, many scientific studies link alcohol consumption to more than 200 diseases, injuries and other health conditions according to the World Health Organization, including cardiovascular disease, liver and pancreatic diseases, and certain mental health conditions. In addition, drinking alcoholic beverages increases the risk of developing certain cancers, including cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, mouth, throat, esophagus and liver.

Understanding these risks can help you make informed choices for your health and well-being.

To learn more, see Educ’alcool’s articles, the “Effets sur la santé de l’alcool” page of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec [French only], the resources of the Association pour la santé publique du Québec, and the Government of Quebec’s “Alcohol” page.

Yes. Current knowledge shows that alcohol-related risks fall along a continuum. Reducing the amount you drink per week and per occasion can therefore help lower the health risks, even without stopping completely.

Note that cutting back is not enough in every situation. During pregnancy, when taking certain medications, or when living with certain health conditions or an alcohol use disorder, stopping completely is recommended.

Caution: for a person who drinks heavily every day, cutting back sharply or stopping abruptly can cause dangerous withdrawal, including seizures in severe cases. It is therefore best to talk to a healthcare professional before taking such a step.

See the Resources section to find organizations that can help.

Yes. Scientific evidence links alcohol consumption to an increased risk of several cancers, at least seven of which are recognized by a number of public health authorities: cancers of the breast, esophagus, mouth, pharynx, larynx, liver, and colon and rectum. The risk increases even at low levels of drinking.

Using alcohol and tobacco together greatly multiplies the risk of mouth and throat cancers.

The risk increases with the amount consumed. Cutting back on your drinking is therefore a concrete step toward prevention.

To learn more, see the “Effets sur la santé de l’alcool” page of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec [French only], the Canadian Cancer Society’s “Alcohol and cancer risk” page, and Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

It is best to avoid alcohol completely during pregnancy or when planning to become pregnant, as well as while breastfeeding; when you are under the legal drinking age; when you have to drive, operate machinery, look after another person, or do an activity that requires alertness and coordination, such as swimming, boating, snowmobiling, riding an ATV, or working at heights; when you are taking certain medications; when you are living with a health condition; or when you are going through a period of anxiety or stress in which alcohol is likely to make things worse.

In these situations, cutting back is not enough: not drinking is the safest option.

Need support? If you are having trouble controlling your drinking, you are not alone. Talk to a healthcare professional, or see Educ’alcool’s support resources. If you drink heavily every day, do not stop abruptly without medical advice: withdrawal can be dangerous.

To learn more, see the Government of Quebec’s “Reducing the health and safety risks associated with drinking alcohol” page and Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.

Yes. Alcohol can help you fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep during the second half of the night. Sleep becomes lighter, you wake up more often, and REM sleep is reduced. Alcohol can also make snoring and sleep apnea worse. The result: you often feel more tired the next day.

Drinking less and avoiding alcohol in the hours before bedtime can help you sleep better. Alcohol is not a good solution for getting to sleep: as you get used to it, its effect on falling asleep wears off, but the disruptions remain. If the problems persist, talk to a healthcare professional.

To learn more, see Educ’alcool’s articles, the “Effets sur la santé de l’alcool” page of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec [French only], and the resources of the Association pour la santé publique du Québec on prevention and lifestyle habits.

You need to be careful: in some cases, it is best not to drink. Alcohol can interact with certain medications, alter their effects, or increase the risk of side effects. Over-the-counter medications and natural health products can also interact with alcohol. Always read the label when starting any new treatment. The answer depends on the medication or substance, the dose, your state of health, and the circumstances in which you are drinking; it is therefore best to check with a pharmacist or a member of your healthcare team before drinking.

To learn more, see the Institut national de santé publique du Québec’s page on the health effects of alcohol [French only] and the Government of Quebec’s “Alcohol” page.

Yes. Combining alcohol with other substances can make the effects more intense or harder to predict, which increases the risk of intoxication, feeling unwell, accidents, loss of control, or overdose.

Amplified effects can occur when alcohol is combined with depressants or cannabis. With cannabis, impairment is greater than with either substance used on its own, particularly when it comes to driving; nausea and feeling unwell are also more common.

Masked effects can occur when alcohol is combined with stimulants, such as energy drinks or cocaine. The person may feel less intoxicated than they really are, which can lead them to drink more.

A specific reaction can occur when alcohol is combined with cocaine. When these two substances are used together, the body produces cocaethylene, a substance that stays in the body longer than cocaine alone. This combination is associated with an increased risk to the heart.

Mixing substances does not cancel out their effects: on the contrary, reactions can become more unpredictable depending on the person, the amount consumed, the pace of use, and the context.

If you are unsure or want to know more, feel free to consult the Government of Quebec’s “Alcohol and other drugs: a combination to avoid” page, the “Psychoactive substances” page of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, the guide Le Blender from the Association québécoise pour la promotion de la santé des personnes utilisatrices de drogues [French only], and the harm reduction resources of the Groupe de recherche et d’intervention psychosociale [French only].

During pregnancy, or if you are planning to become pregnant, the most cautious option is not to drink alcohol. No amount of alcohol and no stage of pregnancy is considered safe for the baby’s development. If you drank before you knew you were pregnant, talk to your healthcare team if you are worried.

While you are breastfeeding, alcohol passes into your milk. Not drinking is therefore the safest option. If you choose to drink occasionally, breastfeed before you drink and wait before the next feeding. Pumping and discarding your milk does not speed up the elimination of alcohol. Your healthcare team can advise you on how long to wait.

To learn more, see Educ’alcool’s “Alcohol and pregnancy” page, the Alcohol or other drug use during pregnancy and breastfeeding page from the Government of Quebec, and the Alcohol during pregnancy page in the INSPQ’s From Tiny Tot to Toddler guide.

Yes, it can be. Alcohol may seem to relieve stress or difficult emotions in the moment, but the effect is short-lived. When it wears off, the anxiety can come back stronger, often the next day. Alcohol can also worsen symptoms of depression and interfere with sleep. In addition, it can interact with certain medications, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications.

Drinking to cope with your emotions is a warning sign. It also increases the risk that your drinking will become a problem. If you are going through a difficult time, talk to someone you trust or to a healthcare professional.

To learn more, see the Government of Quebec’s “Anxiety disorders” page, the information on alcohol from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec, and the resources of La Maison Jean Lapointe.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553) or 9-8-8, at any time.

Drinking can become a concern when it takes up more room in your daily life than it used to, when it is hard to cut back, when it affects your health, relationships, work, studies, or safety, or when it is used to cope with stress, boredom, or emotions. If you are asking yourself the question, that is already a good reason to look for information or support.

To learn more, see the Educ’alcool Resources page, the resources of La Maison Jean Lapointe, and the Help and resources page from the Government of Quebec.

A few signs can indicate that your drinking is becoming a concern:

• You have trouble cutting back or stopping once you have started drinking
• You need to drink more to feel the same effect
• You drink to cope with stress, boredom, or your emotions
• Your drinking has consequences for your health, relationships, work, studies, or safety
• You have blackouts, or people close to you are worried
• You experience tremors, sweating, or anxiety when you are not drinking

If you are asking yourself the question, that is already a good reason to talk to a healthcare professional or to contact a support service.

You can complete an AUDIT self-assessment questionnaire on the website of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec to assess your situation.

 If you drink heavily every day, do not stop abruptly without medical advice: withdrawal can be dangerous.

To learn more, see the Educ’alcool Resources page to find support suited to your needs, the resources of La Maison Jean Lapointe, and the Help and resources page from the Government of Quebec.