Building healthy habits: Alcohol
The UM Student Wellness team encourages you to use alcohol responsibly. If you have concerns about your alcohol use, we can also help you find resources and support.
In Manitoba, alcohol consumption is legal for those 18 years of age or older. Alcohol may only be consumed on private property or in licensed areas.
At UM, alcohol consumption is only permitted in designated areas on campus, such as licensed premises or at approved events with occasional permits to serve alcohol. Alcohol consumption in student residences is allowed in accordance with the guidelines established in the residence contract.
Canada's low risk alcohol drinking guidelines
Regardless of gender, age, tolerance, or alcohol type, the risks of alcohol-related consequences increase with the number of drinks you have per week.
What is a standard drink?
| One drink | Alcohol content |
|---|---|
| Beer - 341 ml (12 oz) | 5 per cent |
| Cooler - 342 ml (12 oz) | 5 per cent |
| Wine - 142 ml (5oz) | 12 per cent |
| Hard alcohol - 43 ml (1.5 oz) | 40 per cent |
When is zero the limit?
- While driving a vehicle or using machinery
- When taking medicine that could potentially interact with alcohol
- During any kind of dangerous physical activity
- Living with mental or physical health problems
- Pregnant or planning to conceive
- When you're responsible for the safety of others
- When you're making important decisions
What are Canada’s 2023 low risk alcohol drinking guidelines?
- Low risk: 2 or fewer drinks per week
- Moderate risk: 3-6 drinks per week
- Increasingly high risk: 7 drinks or more per week
For more information on the new guidelines or to explore supporting research, visit The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
Take Action
Visit the Addiction Foundation Manitoba community support worker on campus to explore your relationship with alcohol or to discuss help for those you care about
If you choose to drink, there are many things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Alternate non-alcoholic with alcoholic beverages
- Avoid drinking games
- Determine in advance not to exceed a set number of drinks
- Eat before and/or during drinking
- Eating while drinking slows alcohol absorption
- Have a friend let you know when you have had enough
- Keep track of how many drinks are being consumed
- Check marks on a calendar, an app in your phone, 3x5 cards that fit in your wallet
- Pace drinks to one or fewer an hour
- Stay with the same group of friends the entire time drinking
- Stick with only one kind of alcohol while drinking
- Refuse a drink from a stranger
- Never leave a drink unattended
- If you’re offered a drink that you don’t see poured, decline
- Use a designated driver (DD)
- A friend or family member
- A taxi or an Uber driver
- Take turns being DD with your friends so that everyone has a safe ride home
- Avoid getting into a car with someone who has been drinking
- If you cannot arrange a DD, choose not to drink
97% of students reported employing one or more of the above protective strategies to slow down alcohol consumption “most of the time” or “always” when they partied or socialized during the last 12 months. Having strategies in place is normal, acceptable, and essential to decreasing your risk. Be safe if you choose to drink.
Information in accordance with the 2019 NCHA Survey Results.
Resources
- Addictions Foundation of Manitoba Community Support Worker (c/o Student Counselling Centre)
- University Health Service
- Student Wellness
- Healthy U
- Addictions Helpline (1-855-662-6605)
- Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
- Drinking guidelines (Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse)
- Free apps: Arrive alive and SaferRide
It’s okay to not drink alcohol
According to a recent survey (NCHA, 2019) almost all UM students are under the impression that their peers are drinking more than they actually are:
- -96% of UM students believe that their peers drink alcohol
- -But, 22% of our students have never used alcohol
This misconception about widespread alcohol use among postsecondary students is important to address as it can contribute to perceived peer pressure to consume when, in fact, about 40% of UM students reported that they have never used alcohol or only used it once in the past 30 days.
If you choose not to drink, you are in good company, as many UM students either don’t drink or have not consumed alcohol in the past 30 days. You are not alone.
Binge drinking
Binge drinking has been defined as consuming 5 or more drinks for men or 4 or more drinks for women in one sitting. According to the CPADS, 56% of the UM students who drink alcohol drink heavily or binge at least once a month.
Binge drinking can put you at an increased risk for:
- Unintentional injury such as motor vehicle collisions, falls, or burns
- Becoming a victim of sexual violence
- Increased violence
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Changes in mood
- Academic challenges (missing class or falling behind in schoolwork)
- Memory, concentration, and learning difficulties
- Development of alcohol dependence
- Chronic diseases such as heart disease or high blood pressure
Binge drinking is dangerous, and you should consider steps to eliminate this behavior or reduce your risk.
Alcohol quick facts
The 2019 NCHA survey results report that 54% of students reported experiencing one or more of the following in the last 12 months, while drinking alcohol:
- Did something you later regretted
- Forgot where you were or what you did
- Got in trouble with the police
- Someone had sex with me without my consent
- Had sex with someone without their consent
- Had unprotected sex
- Physically injured yourself
- Physically injured another person
- Seriously considered suicide
The 2019-2020 CPADS survey results showed that 47% of UM students who drink alcohol experienced at least one alcohol harm in the past 30 days, including:
- Had a hangover
- Less energy or felt tired
- Said or did embarrassing things
- Drank on nights when planned not to
- Felt sick to their stomach or thrown up
In addition, 22% of UM students experienced at least one harm as a result of another’s drinking, including:
- Had to be taken care of by you
- Upset or disappointed by another student
- Affected sleep
Clearly, there are a number of risks of harm associated with drinking alcohol, all of which increase with the amount consumed.