A new website, KnowAlcohol.ca, aims to bring clarity and evidence-based insight to people’s drinking habits. Developed by researchers from the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research (CISUR) and the UBC Faculty of Medicine’s Island Medical Program, the site offers an interactive calculator that estimates personal health risks related to alcohol use. Drawing on the science behind Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, it provides users with a detailed snapshot of how their drinking may impact their risk of diseases—including several types of cancer—plus cigarette equivalency, life expectancy, costs, and calorie intake.

The Know Alcohol calculator tailors results based on a person’s age, sex, and weekly alcohol consumption. Dr. Tim Naimi, CISUR director and one of the experts behind Canada’s alcohol guidance, explains that the goal was to create a tool that helps people make informed choices. “We didn’t want to stop at abstract data—we wanted to show people what it really means for them,” he says. The site also includes a knowledge quiz, a standard drink calculator, and accessible information about alcohol’s broad impacts. Importantly, public input was built into the project from the start, shaping both the content and presentation.

KnowAlcohol.ca builds on the momentum sparked by the 2023 release of Canada’s updated alcohol guidance, with a clear message: drinking less is better. As Dr. Naimi notes, it’s about ensuring people have access to credible information that’s often lacking in the alcohol space. “A can of peas has more information than a can of beer,” he says. With this new resource, people have the opportunity to see not just the potential harms, but also the benefits of reducing their intake—sometimes even just one drink at a time.

Find more from knowalcohol.ca (Canada, 2025)