Why there’s no global measure of a standard drink, and why that gives researchers a headache
The recommended maximum daily alcohol intake varies between countries, confusing both people trying to drink responsibly and those studying patterns of alcohol use and abuse
It’s widely accepted that excessive consumption of alcohol is bad for your health, but the definition of “excessive” varies according to where you live.
If you live in Iceland, low-risk consumption means drinking no more than 10 grams of pure ethanol per day – equivalent to a 330-millilitre can of beer, a 125ml glass of red wine or a 30ml shot of vodka.
Heavier drinkers may consider a move to Chile. There, you can drink 56 grams of pure alcohol – or nearly a bottle of wine – a day and still be considered a low-risk drinker.
In Hong Kong, the Department of Health’s recommended daily limit is two standard drinks for men and one standard drink for women. The city defines a “standard drink” as one containing 10 grams of alcohol.
Wide variation in definitions of “standard drink” and governmental guidelines on “low-risk drinking” have been found in a study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine published in the journal Addiction. It is confusing, the experts say, both for people trying to drink responsibly and for researchers wishing to study global patterns of alcohol use and addiction.
