Updated on March 20, 2023
2 min read
Alcohol Statistics in Canada
Medically Reviewed by
Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
Written by
Michael Bayba
In This Article
Key Takeaways
- 66% of Canadians aged 15 or older reported consuming alcohol at least once in the 30 days
- 6 million Canadians aged 12 and over report heavy drinking at least once a month
- About 21% of the Canadian population will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime
- There are 47,000 alcohol-related deaths in Canada each year
- More than 44% of students in grades 7 to 12 drank alcohol in 2017
Alcohol is the most commonly used and misused substance in Canada. Understanding Canadian trends in alcohol can help us stay informed regarding alcohol use disorder (AUD) in the country.
Alcohol Use Statistics in Canada
- In January 2021, 66% of Canadians aged 15 or older reported consuming alcohol at least once in the previous 30 days2
- In 2019 provincial prevalence of alcohol use ranged from 74% in Ontario to 81% in Quebec1
- In 2020-21 liquor authorities sold the equivalent of 9.7 standard alcoholic beverages a week to Canadians of legal drinking age5
- In 2017, over 105,000 hospitalizations and over 700,000 emergency department visits were due to conditions caused by alcohol6
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Alcohol Abuse (Binge Drinking) Statistics in Canada
- Nearly 6 million Canadians aged 12 and over report heavy drinking at least once a month4
- In 2021, 16.6% of Canadians were considered heavy alcohol drinkers2
- Men were more likely (23.5%) to report heavy drinking than women (14.8%) in 20183
- Canadians residing in rural areas were more likely to report heavy drinking (22.4%) compared to those living in urban areas (18.4%)3
- Heavy drinking in 2018 was higher than the national average in Newfoundland, Labrador (27.7%), and Quebec (21.2%)3
Alcohol Addiction Statistics in Canada
- One in 5 Canadians aged 15+ met the criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence over their lifetime6
- In Canada, approximately 21% of the population will meet the criteria for addiction in their lifetime10
- Alcohol was the most common substance for addiction at 18%10
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Deaths Caused by Alcohol Use in Canada
- 47,000 Canadian deaths are linked to substance abuse each year6
- There have been 3,790 alcohol-induced deaths in Canada in 2020 and 3,860 in 202111
- Ontario roadside surveys show that 4.4% of drivers had been drinking in 201712
- The percentage of fatally injured drivers who had been drinking decreased from 34% in 2008 to 28% in 201612
Alcohol Use in Young People in Canada
- In 2019 alcohol use was higher among young adults aged 20 to 24 (84%) and adults aged 25 years and older (78%) than among youth aged 15 to 19 (46%)1
- In 2017 More than 44% of students in grades 7 to 12 reported consuming an alcoholic beverage8
- 64.5% of students in grades 10-12 have reported drinking alcohol in 20178
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Canadian Resources for Alcohol Use and Addiction
If you or someone you know is addicted to alcohol, seek help immediately. There are various resources to educate and help you regarding alcohol use and addiction:
- Addictions and Mental Health Ontario
- Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)
- Canadian Society for Addiction Medicine
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Health Canada - Canada's Drug Strategy
- Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres
- Liquor Control Board of Ontario - Smart Choices
- CAPSA Peer Support
- Drug Rehab Services
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- SMART Recovery
What's Next?
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Updated on March 20, 2023
Related Articles
- “Canadian Alcohol and Drugs Survey (CADS): summary of results for 2019.” Government of Canada, 2021.
- “Alcohol and cannabis use during the pandemic: Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 6.” Government of Canada, 2021.
- “Heavy drinking, 2018.” Government of Canada, 2019.
- “Percentage of Canadians considered heavy alcohol drinkers from 2013 to 2021.” Statista.com, 2022.
- “Control and sale of alcoholic beverages, April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.” Government of Canada, 2022.
- “Government of Canada supports first national guideline on high-risk drinking and alcohol use disorder.” Government of Canada, 2021.
- “Heavy drinking, by age group.” Government of Canada, 2022.
- “Youth and Alcohol.” Drugfreekidscanada, 2018.
- “How young adults can reduce risks related to alcohol use.” Government of Canada, 2022.
- “Substance use and addiction.” Ontario Mental Health Association.
- “Provisional death counts and excess mortality, January 2020 to September 2022.” Statistics Canada, 2022.
- “Road Safety in Canada 2020.” Government of Canada, 2020
Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
Medical Reviewer
Annamarie Coy spends her spare time studying current behavioral health issues and the results of the treatments for mental health disorders and addiction recovery. Her main goal in life is to end the stigmas associated with mental health and addiction disorders.
Michael Bayba
Content Contributor
Michael is currently the content strategy manager and a lead writer for Addiction Group. He has over eight years of experience in content strategy and creation. His specialties include medical research and technical copywriting.
