OTTAWA - The recommendations from a national alcohol advisory committee stress moderation.
For men, that means a limit of 15 drinks a week, with no more than three drinks a day most days.
For women, that means 10 drinks a week, with no more than two drinks a day most days.
The guidelines also suggest that men should not consume more than four drinks in a sitting, while women should not have more than three.
They also urge Canadians not to drink when they are driving, taking medicine or other drugs, are pregnant or planning to be pregnant, doing any kind of dangerous physical activity or making important decisions.
A 2002 study by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse found alcohol-related harm costs Canada $14.6 billion each year.
"Canada's National Alcohol Strategy underscores the need to develop a culture of moderation," said a statement from Michel Perron, co-chair of the advisory committee and head of the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
"I'm delighted that we're now able to give Canadians one consistent set of guidelines to help them make informed decisions about drinking alcohol."
The guidelines encourage people to drink slowly, with no more than two drinks over a three-hour period. They also suggest having one non-alcoholic drink for every alcoholic beverage and to eat before and while drinking.
The guidelines define a drink as a 341-millilitre bottle of beer, cider or a cooler; a 142-millilitre glass of wine; or, a 43-millilitre serving of rye, gin, rum or other distilled alcohol.
