If you have ever wondered whether your weekly drinks add up to more than you think, Southwestern Public Health has two tools worth trying, and a local stat behind why they matter.
The health unit, which covers St. Thomas, Elgin County, and Oxford County, says local survey data from 2023 found nearly 22 percent of residents who drink reported having seven or more drinks a week on average. Canada’s national alcohol guidance says the risk of certain cancers, including breast and colon cancer, already increases at three to six drinks a week, and the risk of heart disease and stroke increases significantly at seven or more.
“Alcohol is generally normalized in our society, and the health effects of alcohol are often time-delayed over many years,” said Dr. Ninh Tran, the health unit’s Medical Officer of Health. “What’s empowering is that even small behaviour changes, such as cutting back by one drink per week or understanding how much alcohol is in a single drink, can make a meaningful difference to your health.”
The health unit points to two websites. KnowAlcohol.ca, a free resource built by the University of Victoria, shows how your drinking habits could affect your risk of chronic disease, your sleep, your mental well-being, and your overall quality of life, and it includes a calculator that works out what actually counts as one standard drink, since beer, wine, and spirits all pour differently. RethinkYourDrinking.ca offers practical, no-judgment strategies for anyone who wants to cut back.
“Interactive tools allow individuals to have clear, honest information in accessible formats so they can make informed choices that feel right for them,” Tran said. “Whether it’s reducing your intake each week, choosing alcohol alternatives, or simply becoming more aware of your habits, every step matters.”
Cutting back even a little, the national guidance says, can mean better sleep, a better mood, more focus and energy, and a lower risk of cancer and other chronic disease.
Sources: Know Your Drinking Risk: Online Tools Help Residents Understand the Benefits of Cutting Back (Southwestern Public Health, July 28, 2026), Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)
By Anthony Zruna · About the LocVox Newsroom
