More young drinkers at risk than previously estimated

Many more young people are at risk of harm from alcohol than previously estimated shows a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health by researchers at the University of Victoria’s Centre for Addictions Research of BC (CARBC).

The CARBC analysis shows as many as 60 per cent of 18-24 year old drinkers were consistently drinking above national low-risk drinking guidelines (LRDG) for daily consumption. The study, which corrects survey results for under-reporting, also shows that nearly 40 per cent of all Canadian drinkers exceeded daily drinking limits set to minimize short-term harms, and 27 per cent exceeded weekly limits to minimize risk for long-term health problems.

The national guidelines, in place since 2011, set a daily limit of three standard drinks for women and four for men to minimize short-term health impacts of drinking such as accidents, injuries and acute illnesses. They set a weekly maximum of 10 drinks for women and 15 drinks for men to minimize risk of long-term health impacts such as cancer and liver disease.

New methods developed by CARBC and released in 2014, used a national sample of 43,242 Canadians aged 15 years and older to analyze and correct for under-reporting in alcohol surveys. Under-reporting was rife in all age groups, but was most pronounced among younger drinkers.

In this current study, CARBC researchers applied these adjustments for under-reporting to measure the degree of compliance with Canada’s low-risk drinking guidelines.

“Our stats show that more Canadians, particularly young people, are putting themselves at risk for long- and short-term harms, ranging from car crashes to cancer. National statistics currently being used by policy-makers and health agencies are significantly underestimating those risks,” says study co-author and CARBC director Tim Stockwell.

The national survey data was gathered by Health Canada between 2008 and 2012. Using a different approach from CARBC, Health Canada estimated that 19 per cent of all Canadian drinkers exceeded the guidelines for long-term risk and 13 per cent of all drinkers exceeded guideline for short-term risk. Government estimates of 15 to 24-year-olds showed 18 per cent drank above LRDG. Though not directly comparable because of the larger survey set, Stockwell says that Health Canada “massively overestimates” compliance with national drinking guidelines.

To read the abstract of the report An adaptation of the Yesterday Method to correct for under-reporting of alcohol consumption and estimate compliance with Canadian low-risk drinking guidelines: http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/4753. CARBC scientist Dr. Jinhui Zhao is lead author of the paper.

The full report is not available online. Please email your request to carbc@uvic.ca.

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Media contacts:
Tim Stockwell (Centre for Addictions Research) at 250-472-5445 or timstock@uvic.ca
Suzanne Ahearne (University Communications + Marketing) at 250-721-6139 or sahearne@uvic.ca

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