Map of Simcoe Muskoka

Alcohol & Drugs

Heavy Drinking

Key Messages
Current Prevalence
By Sex
By Age Group
By Income
By Education

Key Messages

  • Heavy drinking is significantly higher in Simcoe Muskoka when compared with the province overall.
  • Approximately one-in-five of Simcoe Muskoka adults (19 years and older) engaged in heavy drinking at least once per month in the past year.
  • Heavy drinking is most prevalent among males and younger adults.

Current Prevalence

For the purposes of this page, heavy drinking is defined as males consuming 5 or more (or females consuming 4 or more) alcoholic drinks on one occasion at least once per month in the past 12 months. According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) in 2019/20, 22% (18.3%, 26.2%) of Simcoe Muskoka adults ages 19 years and older reported engaging in heavy drinking.  This was significantly higher than the comparable provincial average of 17% (16.3%, 17.8%). This was not significantly different  from what was reported in the previous survey cycles (2015/16 and 2017/18).

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Since there were no significant changes in the prevalence of heavy drinking 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 from 2015 to 2020, 30% (26.4%, 34.1%) of adult males reported heavy drinking episodes at least monthly, which was significantly higher than the 18% (16.4%, 20.6%) of adult females that reported heavy drinking at least monthly.

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By Age Group

Heavy drinking also varies by age group. From 2015 to 2020, significantly more Simcoe Muskoka residents in the 19 to 44 year age group (32% (28.7%, 36.4%) reported heavy drinking at least monthly when compared with their older counterparts.

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By Income

From 2015 to 2020, heavy drinking was highest among those with higher levels of household income and lowest among those with lower levels of income.

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By Education

During the same period, heavy drinking did not differ by highest level of education among Simcoe Muskoka adults (25 to 64 years).

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Page last updated March 8, 2023