A standard glass refers to the quantity of beer, wine or schnapps normally served in a restaurant.
Keystone
Men should drink no more than two glasses of alcoholic beverages a day, women no more than one to keep their health risks low, the new government guidelines have recommended.
This content was published on
2 minutes
SDA-ATS/ln
The Federal Commission on Alcohol Issues (EKALExternal link) has revised its recommendations for low-risk alcohol consumption.
The new guidelines, published on Tuesday, replace the recommendations released in 2015.
The commission had heard enough new scientific evidence to update its advice and to lower its recommended low-risk drinking limit.
According to the recommendations, healthy men should drink no more than two standard glasses of alcohol per day, women one at most.
In 2015, the advice was that men could drink three glasses per day with minimal risk.
A standard glass refers to the quantity of beer, wine or schnapps normally served in a restaurant.
Such a standard serving would usually contain between 10 and 12 grams of pure alcohol, EKAL wrote in its report.
The experts also suggest having at least two or more alcohol-free days every week.
Alcohol consumption should be adapted to one’s physical and mental health.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women and those planning to have a baby were advised to abstain from drinking completely.
The same abstinence advice goes for young people under the age of sixteen.
Alcohol, from the first glass, lowers people’s power of perception and reaction time.
In Switzerland, some 4% of people over the age of fifteen regularly drink in excess, according to figures by the Federal Office of Public Health.
Every fifth person in Switzerland engages in particularly risky binge drinking, categorised as the consumption of at least five (for men) or four (for women) alcoholic beverages within the space of a few hours.
The Federal Commission on Alcohol Issues advises the Swiss government on questions related to the direct and indirect effects of alcohol consumption.
More
More
The Swiss are drinking more wine, much of it produced at home
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
Basel greenlights funding for Eurovision Village 2025
This content was published on
MCH Group Ltd. is set to receive CHF1 million ($1.1 million) for the Eurovision Village at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.
Geneva researchers discover potential for targeted cancer drug delivery
This content was published on
Researchers in Geneva have discovered how some bacteria inject dangerous enzymes into cells, potentially enabling targeted drug delivery to cancer cells.
Macron denies involvement in Nestlé Waters scandal
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron denied any “agreement” or “collusion” with the Swiss company Nestlé over the bottled water scandal on Tuesday.
UBS has cut 10,000 jobs since Credit Suisse takeover in 2023
This content was published on
UBS Group has cut more than 10,000 roles since it bought Credit Suisse, marking a milestone in the lender’s efforts to integrate its former rival.
Swiss multinational SGS to move HQ from Geneva to Zug
This content was published on
The Swiss multinational SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, plans to move its headquarters from Geneva to canton Zug in central Switzerland.
Swiss army takes part in international tank competition
This content was published on
Around 20 Swiss army personnel and two Leopard 2 tanks are taking part in an international tank competition in Grafenwöhr, Germany, this week.
Omega-3 supplements seem to slow ageing process, Swiss study finds
This content was published on
Taking a daily omega-3 supplement appears to slow down the rate of biological ageing by up to four months, according to a study by researchers at the University of Zurich.
Swiss brewery defends choice of Nepalese monarch on beer bottle
This content was published on
A brewery in Zurich had no idea that choosing a former Nepalese king to grace a seasonal beer would cause a diplomatic row.
This content was published on
The amount of beer consumed in Switzerland declined last year, as it did for wine. Yet the number of specialist microbreweries continues to rise.
This content was published on
The average Swiss drank 7.9 litres of pure alcohol last year, down from 8.1 litres in 2014 and 2015. That’s the lowest figure in over 70 years.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.