Key Messages
Current Prevalence
By Sex
By Age
By Education and Income
- Alcohol use is significantly higher in Simcoe Muskoka when compared with the province overall.
- Nearly two-thirds of Simcoe Muskoka adults (19 years and older) reported drinking regularly in the past 12 months.
- Regular drinking among Simcoe Muskoka adults was significantly higher for males when compared with females.
- Regular drinking is also highest among those with higher levels of education and household income.
According to the 2019/20 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) conducted by Statistics Canada, 80% (76.9%, 83.5%) of Simcoe Muskoka adults (19 years and older) reported drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months, which was significantly higher than the provincial average of 76% (74.9%, 76.8%). This was significantly different from what was reported in the previous survey cycles (2015/16 and 2017/18).
Current drinkers can be classified into 2 groups: regular drinkers (drank alcohol in the past month) and occasional drinkers (drinking alcoholic beverages less than once per month). Also in 2019/20, 63% (59.1%, 67.7%) of adults (19+) reported drinking regularly while 17% (14.2%, 20.0%) drank occasionally. Finally, another 20% (16.5%, 23.1%) of adults 19 years of age and older indicated that they had not consumed any alcohol in the 12 months preceding the survey. The percentage of regular adult drinkers in Simcoe Muskoka is significantly higher when compared with the overall Ontario average. This was not significantly different from what was reported in the previous survey cycles (2015/16 and 2017/18).
Since there were no significant changes in the prevalence of alcohol consumption between 2015 and 2020, the estimates by sub-population presented below are based on the six years of combined data to increase statistical precision.
By Sex
In Simcoe Muskoka between 2015 and 2020, the prevalence of regular drinking was significantly higher among adult males (75% (72.3%, 77.5%) when compared with females (60% (57.3%, 63.4%).
By Age
Between 2015 and 2020, regular drinking of alcohol was significantly lower among Simcoe Muskoka seniors (65 years and older) at 58% (54.4%,62.9%) when compared with adults 19 to 64 years.
By Education and Income
Drinking alcohol regularly is highest among those with higher levels of education and lower levels of household income. Between 2015 and 2020, more than three-quarters (77% (71.6%, 81.2%)) of adults 25 to 64 years with a degree or higher were regular drinkers compared with less than two-thirds (64% (58.8%, 68.4%)) among those with a high school education or less. During the same period, 55% (48.9%, 60.0%) of Simcoe Muskoka adults (19+) with the least income were regular drinkers compared with 81% (76.3%, 84.5%) among those with the most income.
Page last updated March 10, 2023