Canadians heavy drinkers percent 2013-2021

In 2021, around 16.6 percent of Canadians were considered heavy alcohol drinkers, a decrease from previous years. Males who consumed five or more drinks, or females who consumed four or more drinks, on one occasion at least once a month in the past year were considered heavy alcohol drinkers.

Alcohol health risks

Heavy or excessive alcohol use can lead to a number of health problems. Long-term health risks from excessive alcohol use include high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and certain cancers. Liver disease is also a well-known health risk that can result from alcohol abuse. Long-term alcohol abuse can cause the liver to become swollen and inflamed which can lead to scarring called cirrhosis. The death rate for chronic liver disease in Canada has increased steadily over the last couple decades reaching a high of 11 deaths per 100,000 population in 2020.

The alcohol market in Canada

In 2020, retail sales of alcoholic beverages in Canada reached almost 30 billion Canadian dollars. Although total retail sales of alcoholic beverages have increased in recent years, beer sales, actually decreased from 2020 to 2021. However, sales of spirits have gradually increased over the past decade, reaching around 6.5 billion Canadian dollars in 2021.

Percentage of Canadians considered heavy alcohol drinkers from 2013 to 2021

Characteristic	Percentage of persons aged 12 years and older
2021	15.6%
2020	16.6%
2019	18.3%
2018	19.1%
2017	19.5%
2016	19%
2015	19.2%
2014	17.9%
2013	18.9%

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Release date

August 2022

More information

Region

Canada

Survey time period

2013 to 2021

Number of respondents

65,000 respondents

Age group

12 years and older

Supplementary notes

All figures are annual estimates.
Since 2007, data for the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) are collected yearly instead of every two years. While a sample of approximately 130,000 respondents were interviewed during the reference periods of 2003 and 2005, it has been changed to 65,000 respondents each year starting in 2007.
A definition change was implemented in 2013 to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines for Heavy drinking. 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. While this indicator remains comparable for males to the 5 or more drinks indicator published in previous years, it is no longer comparable for females.

Figures from 2013 and 2014 were taken from an archived page from the same source and can be accessed here.
As a result of the 2015 redesign, Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) has a new collection strategy, a new sample design, and has undergone major content revisions. With all these factors taken together, caution should be taken when comparing data from previous cycles to data released for the 2015 cycle onwards.

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