Jan 14, 2026
About this episode:
Citing updated research on the health risks of drinking alcohol, Canada changed consumption guidelines in 2023, making global headlines for its steep drop in what’s viewed as “low risk” drinking. In this episode: One of the architects of those guidelines explains how these recommendations were developed, their efficacy as a public health intervention, and what to make of the U.S.’s new guidelines.
Guests:
Tim Stockwell, PhD, is a scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Victoria.
Host:
Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast, an editor for Expert Insights, and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Show links and related content:
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US has new alcohol guidelines: How much is healthy to drink?—The Hill
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Is That Drink Worth It to You?—New York Times
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Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health—Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
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Note: These podcasts are a conversation between the participants, and do not represent the position of Johns Hopkins University.