Recently, our government came out with its latest guidelines for alcohol consumption: Canadians should consume no more than two drinks per week of alcohol. The previous Health Canada guidelines said men should have no more than three drinks per day and women, no more than two per day. For many of us, the new guidelines are laughable and we scratch our heads to think, why? How is it that our government wishes to also control us in this aspect of our lives? But I'll just tuck my tinfoil hat away for the time being.
My drink of choice would be red wine and I imagine quite a few women would also choose wine as their choice of alcohol. Depending on the class that I taught that year or the administration I was working under, I might enjoy/require a glass of wine while making supper or not. In fact, I don't know that I knew many teachers who did not partake in an alcoholic beverage from time to time, and that says something about the profession. An afternoon at the pool in the summer might entail a very cold Budlight Lime (beer). A rare supper out at a restaurant would usually include a wine or a beer (whilst I shuddered at the cost). But it was always enjoyable, social, fun... I wonder how a Mediterranean audience would react to the two drinks per week suggestion?
So today's Mundane Monday question is this: do you prefer red wine, white wine, or no wine? You can also chime in on which specific kind you prefer, if you wish. You can say if you would adhere to the new Health Canada guidelines or not. You can even theorize why a beer loving, six months out of the year crappy weather enduring nation is being told to cut back! All hail Mundane Monday.
How are the authorities going to check how many glasses of alcohol that a person drinks? I drink a glass of icy white wine every night for dinner, but unless a person comes into my kitchen to check, who would know?
ReplyDeleteI imagine that in a few months time, this most recent study will be disproved (again). What a waste of time & money. Mr Man prefers red, & if my digestive system would allow, I like both with a slight preference for red, but either would need a slice of lime. And while adjusting my tinfoil hat for better reception, I ask is this a test to see if Canadians will accept easily or is this to distract us from bigger issues slipping by? ... Mary-Lou =^..^=
ReplyDeleteI don't drink alcohol. I quit in the 1990s as my then-husband was an alcoholic and I wanted him to quit. He didn't quit then but did after I divorced him.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a drop since and don't miss it at all.
I like a nice glass of wine with dinner. Sharing a bottle or 2 with friends at a restaurant is also enjoyed. This dictate by officials trying to control consumption seems impossible. Are they going to institute a 'wine police brigade'? Somebody probably got a raise and promotion for inventing this dictate!
ReplyDeleteA glass of wine with a meal is part of the meal,a civilized practice. When silly recommendations like this are announced I think it's either a distraction, or someone has to justify their paycheck.
ReplyDeleteI'm not worried about the government policing alchohol consumption - it's a guideline like the food guide. And how many people actually adhere to the recommended servings of veg and fruit in a day? Not many would be my guest.
ReplyDeleteI'm a beer drinker, but only occasionally. I don't purchase it to drink at home so will have one at dinner in a restaurant. I've had maybe two or three glasses of wine over my lifetime that I actually enjoyed - the rest just tastes metallic to me.
2-3 per day is astonishing. I wouldn't be able to stand. 2-3 per week isn't much better. That's a lot! Years back, when I was pregnant but hadn't told my employer yet, a work friend was really confused as to why I wasn't drinking at a work dinner meeting. Later when I announced my pregnancy she seemed relieved to finally understand, "Oh, that's why you weren't drinking!" That's not why I wasn't drinking, but I didn't tell her. Different strokes as they say.
ReplyDeleteI guess the only way they could assess the success of the guideline would be measure nationwide production and sales of alcoholic beverages. We guess Canada doesn't produce a lake of wine, but the distillers and beer producers would be vociferous if their sales dropped of a cliff... it might be a case of advice taken with a pinch of salt (or slice of lime).
ReplyDeleteExactly, those mediterranean countries would riot. A glass or two of wine with a meal is as necessary as the hunk of bread and the handful of olives. Around here the thought is that if you've got olive oil and wine in your store room, a lemon tree in your garden and preferably an olive tree too you can live like a king.
ReplyDeleteI almost never drink, I have way too many bad associations with alcohol.
ReplyDeleteI prefer white wine, as drinking red wine (other than Malbec) gives me a massive headache. An ice cold beer or two is great in the summer.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I remember when Canada only had gov't liquor stores... so my Mother made her own wine!! Gallon jugs on the back porch filled with fluids made from beach plums, dandelion flowers and other things with balloons to catch the gasses from yeast and sugar !! They actually didn't taste bad. I know how surprised she was that I could ( down here in the States) buy liquor in the grocery store! BTW.. either red, white or rose wine for me!!
ReplyDeleteWhite for me, and I'm up for tbe occasional Prosecco or champagne too! But no sweet wines please. Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are my favorites. Studies seem to conflict with each other regularly. Not long ago weren't "they" saying a glass or two of red wine daily was good for the heart? Poor white wine never gets any respect though. I am afraid my glass or two a day are way over your government 's recs
ReplyDeleteI've never had a high tolerance for alcoholic beverages, but I do enjoy a glass of very cold, white wine while preparing dinner now and then. I will enjoy a light beer with pizza occasionally. Like others, no way could I tolerate two drinks a day for any length of time even if I tried. Which wouldn't be a fun experience.
ReplyDeleteI've had my two glasses already this week but can't see letting the rest of the wine in the bottle go to waste. So, I will be over the limit very soon!
ReplyDeleteI make my own wine from the berries on our property. 6 little bottles and two big ones. The big one are for gifts and the little ones (two glasses) are for Saturday night and Sunday night. That is enough until my next batch is ready. I am not very scientific so sometimes orange juice has more kick and once in awhile one glass knocks your socks off. My favorites are raspberry, dandelion, and saskatoon. I prefer reds, but my rhubarb isn't bad. I'm glad you asked. I don't feel so bad about a glass here or there. My other vice is Mike's Hard Lemonade, but it is hard to come by. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI like red wine and drink every evening so am way over the limit. Limits are always changing though and I prefer to live as I want for as long as I am able. Merlot is my preferred choice and I choose a reasonably priced one.
ReplyDeleteVote the idiots Out of office! It's NONE of the government's business what I drink!
ReplyDeletehugs
Donna
I'm definitely a red wine woman. Maybe a cold white on a very hot summer evening but mostly red, any time of year. I like the Northern Italian/Piedmont wines -- Valpolicella, Barbara, etc. best, but also the South American Malbecs and some of the Spanish ones, too. We might have a couple of glasses of wine on a weekend with dinner and after but rarely in the week (unless there are leftovers! Use it or lose it!) Those seem a bit extreme to me, although it might make more sense for harder liquors.
ReplyDeleteRespectfully, it doesn't sound like anyone's trying to control anyone's drinking. They're just telling you all the truth and you all don't like hearing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all of your comments. I think this was a bit of a provocative topic and the answers ranged didn't they?
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit late reading this, but no wine for me... (migraines). If I had a choice of alcohol, I would say Irish Coffee is my favorite... and I do like Guinness, but hardly ever have either.
ReplyDeleteI never touch alcohol. So many close to me were done in by it. It just never had any positive appeal.
ReplyDeleteBefore the new alcohol consumption guidelines were announced, I'd already decided to change my drinking habits. I've always felt a glass or two of red wine was well deserved after a tiring day in the classroom. After retirement, in 2020, I still looked forward to red wine as dinner time rolled around. I started doing some of my own reading about alcohol and decided that I was probably better off (health wise) to limit wine drinking to evenings out and social gatherings. It took about 6 months to stop feeling like something was missing with my wine-free dinners but I'm fine with it now. I sure like my glass of red on an evening out though.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about this last night as I lay in bed, trying to fall asleep. The drinking guidelines are only that, guidelines. The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction, specifically wanted the public to be aware that alcohol use is a risk factor for the development of cancer, something most people are unaware of.
ReplyDeleteFor myself, it's just my choice. I hate hangovers and have had way too many bad experiences with drunks.
Tut! No study is definitive and must be looked on in context of the others like it. Bottom line: no ETOH is 'good' for you but a few drinks in the context of social interactions like dinner with loved ones is part of a greater benefit.
ReplyDeleteI guess my daily square of dark chocolate will be next on the Health Police’s list of bad stuff. My consumption of wine which was always limited to weekends and holidays has been declining in recent years to what is now only an occasional glass (red or white, never pink unless there are bubbles too) but meanwhile the chocolate habit has picked up.
ReplyDeleteI saw that on the news. It doesn't bother me as I don't drink alcohol.
ReplyDelete