Key Messages
Current Prevalence
By Sex
By Age Group
By Income
By Education
- 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).
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.
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.
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.
By Education
During the same period, heavy drinking did not differ by highest level of education among Simcoe Muskoka adults (25 to 64 years).
Page last updated March 8, 2023