Canada's tipplers cutting back
CMAJ 1999;160:979
© 1999 Canadian Medical Association
The Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse says the amount of alcohol consumed in Canada has declined substantially over the last decade. Based on sales of alcoholic beverages, the 10.9 L of absolute alcohol consumed by the average Canadian adult in 1981/82 fell to 7.6 L in 1992/93. More than half of the alcohol consumed in 1992/93 (56.5%) was found in beer.
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The Yukon recorded the highest level of consumption in 1992/93, with annual sales of 15 L of absolute alcohol per person aged 15 and older. However, this number may be misleading because of the army of tourists that invades the Yukon every year, increasing the amount of alcohol sold but not the base population. Next on the list were British Columbia (9.1 L) and the Northwest Territories (9 L). The lowest consumption level was found in New Brunswick, 6 L annually.
Surveys of individual Canadians usually point to lower overall consumption rates, primarily due to underestimation of consumption by heavy drinkers. The 1992/93 sales figures set average consumption at 8.6 drinks per week, compared with the self-reported level provided by the 1993 General Social Survey, 4.2 drinks per week.
That survey also showed that men consume twice as much per week as women (5.9 drinks versus 2.3) and that the heaviest drinking is done by those aged between 18 and 24, with an average of more than 5 drinks consumed per week.
By employment group, the 1993 survey indicated that those who are seeking work drink the most (5.9 drinks per week) followed by unskilled workers (5). Students recorded a low average number of drinks per week (3.8), but tended to drink heavily when they did imbibe: 63% of current drinkers had consumed 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past year, compared with 40% of professional workers.
A 1994 survey indicated that Canadians in the highest income group were most likely to be drinkers (86.1%), compared with 64% for lower-middle and low-income groups.
This column was written by Lynda Buske, chief, physician resources information planning, CMA. Readers may send potential research topics to Patrick Sullivan (sullip@cma.ca; 613 731-8610 or 800 663-7336 x2126; fax 613 565-2382).
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