"As we emerge from lockdowns and return to a more normal life,I think many of us are thinking about how to improve our health,"she said."Now one of those ways is paying attention to the amount of alcohol we drink."
Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said the country's current alcohol consumption came at a high cost,with 4000 alcohol-related deaths a year,70,000 hospital admissions and links to more than 40 medical conditions.
"One in four Australians are drinking alcohol at risky levels. One in two women ... consumed alcohol during their pregnancy,and 10 to 15 per cent of all emergency department presentations are alcohol-related,"he said.
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"So reducing the risks posed by alcohol demands a complex and multifaceted approach,and the release of these guidelines today from the NHMRC is a very important part of that."
The new guidelines,developed over four years,recommend no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than four standard drinks in one day. They replace guidelines released in 2009 that recommended a maximum of 14 drinks a week.
The new guidelines also recommend that women trying to get pregnant and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding steer clear of alcohol for the safety of their babies. Children under the age of 18 should not drink any alcohol,they say.