With the summer season and graduation balls just around the corner, Néomédia decided to take a closer look at a very topical issue: alcohol consumption. How can you drink responsibly, even when there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate with family and friends? We talk to Geneviève Desautels, Executive Director of the NPO Éduc'alcool, whose mission is to provide information on alcohol consumption and encourage moderation.

The official arrival of the summer, the approaching vacations, the end of school, a birthday, a family gathering, passing an exam, getting a promotion at work, a pay raise...there are many occasions to drink throughout the year, but even more so during the summer, when family and friends gather more frequently.

So it's essential to talk about responsible consumption. " During a heatwave like the one we've experienced in recent days, people are even more inclined to open a nice cold beer to cool down. However, we mustn't forget that cold beer dehydrates the body and means that the drinker has to go to the toilet more often. So it's important to make sure you drink water at the same time, or alternately, to stay hydrated," she begins.

For example, Desautels recommends one glass of alcohol followed by one glass of water, or one non-alcoholic drink followed by one glass of water.

" In recent years, non-alcoholic beverages have enjoyed a boom compared with previous decades. Many companies, such as Heineken and Guinness, now offer such products. There are also many alcohol-free spirits. There are always ways to make informed choices. Just remember to stay hydrated when drinking alcohol. Otherwise, at events, it's important to have water stations, especially if you're selling alcoholic or non-alcoholic products ," she adds.

Extra vigilance on the water

The summer season also means boating. Many people like to enjoy the warmth and sunshine on a watercraft. But these are often the scene of unfortunate accidents caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

" We don't want to frighten people, but it's important to talk about it to raise awareness. In a group, the motivation to drink is often higher for some people. On the water, in direct sunlight, one drink has the effects of three on the body. Several coroner's inquests have shown that accidents often occur because of this factor. For example, someone goes to one end of the pontoon to urinate in the water and slips or falls in. If the person has consumed three drinks that have the effect of nine, it's certain that their reflexes won't be the same as if they were sober ", she imagines.

A social crutch?

According to Ms Désautels, for many people, having a drink in hand is a social crutch, a way of getting in touch with others and socializing. " It's less frowned upon than it used to be not to drink, but there's still work to be done to change attitudes on the subject. For most drinkers, having a glass in their hand is a necessity. Today, it can be filled with water or a non-alcoholic beverage. There's a good range of them on the market."

What are the responsible daily consumption amounts for a woman and a man? "It's very difficult to answer this question, because even science doesn't agree on it. It depends on each person's morphology, tolerance to alcohol and metabolism. I think we need to focus more on the reasons for drinking. Is it to enjoy a product? If so, a glass and a half drunk very slowly will be enough. Where consumption becomes problematic is if it's motivated by compensating for something. For example, I drink because I've had a bad day at work. If it happens once or twice every six months, that's fine. But if it happens every time I experience a negative emotion, it's not normal and becomes overconsumption," she concludes.

Éduc'Alcool is a non-profit organization not affiliated with the Quebec government. Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, its mission is to help Quebecers make informed choices about responsible drinking.

You can learn more about its values and get tips by visiting its website at https://www.educalcool.qc.ca/.