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Alcohol Reality Check

We all know it’s healthier to be a non-drinker than a chronic drinker. But what about drinking habits that lie in between the extremes of abstinence and alcohol dependence? Isn’t there any way alcohol can be part of an enjoyable and healthy life? Absolutely, say health experts, provided you follow a few low-risk drinking guidelines designed to help you avoid immediate and long-term health, safety, and social problems.

Self Help Resources

Alcohol Reality Check - An online screening test developed by CARBC to help people understand if their drinking is putting them at risk of harm.

Tips for Cutting Back or Quitting Drinking Alcohol - If you think it’s time to cut down on or quit drinking but don’t know where to start, here are some simple steps to help.

Tips for a Safe Night Out - Tips on what to look for in a bar or club, which ones to avoid, and a few guidelines on low-risk drinking.

You and Substance Use - This is a new resource developed by CARBC to help individuals better understand and manage their relationships with psychoactive substances, including alcohol. It is a self-help guide employing a motivational approach.

Paper-Based Resources (Adult)

The adult risky drinking screening package is built around a short questionnaire designed to indicate possible difficulties and facilitate conversation exploring suitable strategies to avoid adverse outcomes. The paper-based package for contains the following components:

  • Questionnaire form (a 3 question screen)
  • Quick Scoring Aid (single sheet enabling those who administer the screen to readily situate responses at a relevant level of risk)
  • Screening Guide (a booklet to orient those conducting the session to the logic of the screen, the process involved, a recommended approach to discussion and suggested comments and questions to support a constructive exchange encouraging a beneficial course of action on the part of the person taking the screen)
  • Take-home Information Card (a card on which results can be registered along with basic information on lower risk drinking)

Paper-Based Resources (Youth)

The youth risky drinking screening package is built around a short questionnaire designed to indicate possible difficulties and facilitate conversation exploring suitable strategies to avoid adverse outcomes. The paper-based package contains the following components:

  • Questionnaire (a 7 question screen)
  • Quick Scoring Aid (a single sheet enabling those who administer the screen to readily situate responses at a relevant level of risk)
  • Youth Screening Guide (a 5-page resource to orient those conducting the session to the logic of the screen, the process involved, a recommended approach to discussion and suggested comments and questions to support a constructive exchange encouraging a beneficial course of action on the part of the person taking the screen)
  • Youth Alcohol Resource Card (a take-home results and resource card with general recommendations for youth on low-risk drinking)

About ARC

Research has shown the benefit of screening and brief intervention related to risky drinking. When people are invited to reflect on their pattern of alcohol consumption and provided with clear information about how to moderate their risk, a significant number do make positive changes without the need for more intensive, extensive and expensive healthcare services.

The resources in this kit are designed to help people assess their drinking against Canada's Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines based on age, gender and pattern of consumption.

The online Alcohol Reality Check is a self-administered version of the screening tool. Filling out the minimal demographics on the entry page leads visitors to the appropriate short questionnaire. Once it is filled out, the site visitor receives personalized feedback plus links to online resource items.

The paper-based resources are designed to assist professionals and other care givers in various settings in facilitating effective screening and brief interventions.