​​Public Health Recommendations

There are many actions that you can take to reduce the harms caused by excessive alcohol use:

• ​​If you choose to drink alcohol, the Dietary Guidelines for Ame​ricans recommends that adults of​ legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed
  

• Choose not to serve or provide alcohol to those who should not be drinking, including those under 21 years of age or those who are already intoxicated.

• Store alcohol out of reach and out of sight of people under 21 years of age.

• When choosing to go out and drink, use a designated sober driver.

• Learn the factors that affect intoxication so that you can avoid them. Visit the Factors that Affect Intoxication page to learn more.

• Talk with your doctor about your drinking behavior and request counseling if you drink too much.

• Talk with your doctor about how alcohol use may interfere with any medications you are taking.

• Support effective strategies to reduce how available and accessible alcohol is in your community. Learn more at the Preventing Excess​ive Alcohol Use webpage.​
  

Check Your Drinking​

Drinking less or not at all has been shown to reduce health concerns. You can anonymously check your drinking habits, identify barriers and motivators for drinking less, and build a plan to make healthier choices with this quick, easy, and confidential screening tool at this link: 

For questions, please contact us at alcohol@cdph.ca.​gov.