Health Fact Sheets
Heavy drinking, 2018
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In 2018, 19.1% of Canadians aged 12 and older (roughly 5.9 million people) reported alcohol consumption that classified them as heavy drinkers.Note 1 The proportion of people classified as heavy drinkers remained stable between 2017 and 2018 (19.5%, 19.1%).Note 2
Overall, males were more likely (23.5%) to report heavy drinking than females (14.8%) in 2018. The highest proportion of heavy drinking for both sexes was among those aged 18 to 34. In this age group, 33.5% of males and 23.8% of females were heavy drinkers (Chart 1).
Data table for Chart 1
| Age group | Percent | Confidence Interval | |
|---|---|---|---|
| lower 95% limit | upper 95% limit | ||
| Males | |||
| Total (12 years and older) |
23.5 | 22.6 | 24.4 |
| 12 to 17 years | 2.9Note E: Use with caution | 1.9 | 3.9 |
| 18 to 34 years | 33.5 | 31.2 | 35.9 |
| 35 to 49 years | 28.4 | 26.3 | 30.4 |
| 50 to 64 years | 23.7 | 22.0 | 25.5 |
| 65 years and older | 10.6 | 9.6 | 11.6 |
| Females | |||
| Total (12 years and older) |
14.8 | 14.1 | 15.4 |
| 12 to 17 years | 4.0Note E: Use with caution | 2.8 | 5.3 |
| 18 to 34 years | 23.8 | 22.0 | 25.7 |
| 35 to 49 years | 17.5 | 16.0 | 19.0 |
| 50 to 64 years | 14.2 | 12.9 | 15.5 |
| 65 years and older | 4.6 | 4.0 | 5.3 |
|
E use with caution Note: Heavy drinking refers to males who reported having 5 or more drinks, or women who reported having 4 or more drinks, on one occasion, at least once a month in the past year. Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2018. |
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Despite the fact it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 in Canada,Note 3Note 4 25.6% of Canadian youth aged 12 to 17 reported consuming an alcoholic beverage in the previous 12 months. Among those who did drink, 37.8% of them did so at least once a month. Overall, 3.4% of youth were classified as heavy drinkers, which has remained consistent since 2015.
The proportion of residents who reported heavy drinking in the past 12 months was lower than the national average (19.1%) in:
- Ontario (17.3%)
- Manitoba (16.0%)
The proportion of residents who reported heavy drinking in the past 12 months was higher than the national average in:
- Newfoundland and Labrador (27.7%)
- Quebec (21.2%)
The proportion of residents who were classified as heavy drinkers was about the same as the national average in all other provinces. Canadians residing in rural areas were more likely to report heavy drinking (22.4%) compared to those living urban areas (18.4%).
Start of text boxAbout heavy drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption can have serious health and social consequences, especially when combined with other behaviours such as driving while intoxicated. For males, heavy drinking refers to having consumed five or more drinks, per occasion, at least once a month during the past year. For females, heavy drinking refers to having consumed four or more drinks, per occasion, at least once a month during the past year.
References
Hindmarch I., J. Bhatti, G. Starmer, D. Mascord, J. Kerr, and N. Sherwood. 1992. The effects of alcohol on the cognitive function of males and females and on skills relating to car driving. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical & Experimental. Vol.7, no. 2. (accessed February 25, 2019).
Hotton, T., and D. Haans. 2004. Alcohol and drug use in early adolescence. Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 15, no. 3. (accessed February 25, 2019).
Pérez, C. 2005. Passengers of intoxicated drivers. Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 16, no. 2. (accessed February 25, 2019).
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). 2015. The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2015: Alcohol Consumption in Canada. Canada. (accessed February 25, 2019).
Tjepkema, M. 2004. Alcohol and illicit drug dependence. Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 15 (Supplement). (accessed February 25, 2019).
Wilkins, K. 2002. Moderate alcohol consumption and heart disease. Health Reports. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. Vol. 14, no. 1. (accessed February 25, 2019).
Data
Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from table 13-10-0096-01.
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