Text descriptions for graphics on alcohol policies

Relative risks by cancer type and alcohol intake (drinks per day)

This graph from Background and key statistics illustrates relative risks by cancer type and alcohol intake.

Oral cavity and pharynx cancer has a relative risk of 1.13 for light drinkers, 1.83 for moderate drinkers, and 5.13 for heavy drinkers.
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has a relative risk of 1.26 for light drinkers, 2.23 for moderate drinkers, and 4.95 for heavy drinkers.
Larynx cancer has a relative risk of 0.87 for light drinkers, 1.44 for moderate drinkers, and 2.65 for heavy drinkers.
Liver cancer has a relative risk of 1.00 for light drinkers, 1.08 for moderate drinkers, and 2.07 for heavy drinkers.
Female breast cancer has a relative risk of 1.04 for light drinkers, 1.23 for moderate drinkers, and 1.61 for heavy drinkers.
Colorectum cancer has a relative risk of 0.99 for light drinkers, 1.17 for moderate drinkers, and 1.44 for heavy drinkers.

Non-drinkers have a relative risk of 1.00 across all listed cancer types.

Percentage of Canadians (aged 18+) who reported drinking in the past year, by jurisdiction – 2019

This graph illustrates the percentage of Canadians aged 18+ who reported drinking in the past year, by jurisdiction in 2019.

BC reported 80.1%.
Alberta reported 79.1%.
Saskatchewan reported 77.5%.
Manitoba reported 78.1%.
Ontario reported 75.7%.
Quebec reported 83.7%.
New Brunswick reported 73%.
Nova Scotia reported 78.5%.
PEI reported 73.9%.
Newfoundland reported 74.8%.
Yukon reported 82.7%.
Northwest Territories reported 77.7%.
Nunavut reported 73.1%.

The national average was 77.5%.

Alcohol retail density in number of stores per 100,000 population (excluding off-sales), by province/territory – 2016

This graph from Policy actions illustrates alcohol retail density from 2016 per 100,000 population by province and territory.

British Columbia has 28 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Alberta has 48 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Saskatchewan has 29 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Manitoba has 22 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Ontario has 18 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Quebec has 119 retail stores per 100,000 people.
New Brunswick has 27 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Nova Scotia has 30 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Newfoundland and Labrador has 201 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Prince Edward Island has 21 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Yukon has 23 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Northwest Territories have 20 retail stores per 100,000 people.
Nunavut has 8 retail stores per 100,000 people.

Frequency of alcohol consumption (aged 18+), by sex – 2017-2018

This graph from Populations of interest illustrates the frequency of alcohol consumption aged 18+ by sex in 2018.

16.9% of males and 23.5% of females identified as non-drinkers.
12.7% of males and 19.7% of females reported consumption of alcohol less than once a month.
17.6% of males and 20.2% of females reported consumption of alcohol one to three times a month.
13.9% of males and 12% of females reported consumption of alcohol once a week.
39% of males and 24.5% of females reported consumption of alcohol twice a week.

Frequency of drinking 5+ drinks for men/4+ drinks for women, by sex – 2017-2018

This graph illustrates the percentage of respondents aged 18+ who reported heavy drinking by sex in 2017-2018. Heavy drinking is defined as 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on one occasion.

26.3% of males and 17% of females reported heavy drinking at least once a month.
25% of males and 24.3% of females reported heavy drinking less than once a month.
48.7% of males and 58.3% of females reported no heavy drinking in the past year.

Self-reported past-year alcohol use and drinking 5+ drinks on one occasion among Grades 7-12 – 2012-2017

This graph illustrates the prevalence of self-reported past year alcohol use among grades 7-12 in Canada from 2012 to 2017.

In 2012, 40.9% of students reported past year alcohol use.
In 2014, 39.5% of students reported past year alcohol use.
In 2017, 44% of students reported past year alcohol use.

This graph also illustrates prevalence of self-reported past-year drinking of 5+ drinks on one occasion among grades 7-12 in Canada from 2012 to 2017.

In 2012, 29.2% of students reported binge drinking.
In 2014, 23.7% of students reported binge drinking.
In 2017, 24.2% of students reported binge drinking.

Alcohol use among off-reserve First Nations, Inuit and Métis vs non-Indigenous people aged 12+ – 2012

This graph illustrates alcohol use among off-reserve First Nations, Inuit, and Metis vs. non-Indigenous people aged 12 and over in Canada in 2012.

35% of off-reserve First Nations, 29.6% of Metis, 38.5% of Inuit, and 22.5% of non-Indigenous people reported drinking five or more drinks at least monthly.
30.9% of off-reserve First Nations, 24.9% of Metis, 37.6% of Inuit, and 23.5% of non-Indigenous people reported as non-drinkers.

Percentage of heavy drinking by income quintile and sex – 2018

This graph illustrates the percentage of heavy drinking by income quintile and gender in 2018.

27.6% of males and 17.4% of females reported heavy drinking in the lowest income quintile.
27.7% of males and 16.9% of females reported heavy drinking in the second income quintile.
29.6% of males and 19.1% of females reported heavy drinking in the third income quintile.
30.7% of males and 20% of females reported heavy drinking in the fourth income quintile.
34.1% of males and 22.1% of females reported heavy drinking in the highest income quintile.