People in the Stratford area drink alcohol more heavily than the provincial average.
Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey shows that 26% of Huron Perth residents aged 19 and older self-report consuming alcohol at a high-risk level for alcohol-related consequences.
That’s more than the Ontario average of 21%.
Seventeen percent of local residents report having three to six drinks per week, while 38% report having zero drinks in the past week.
Compared to Ontario, fewer Huron Perth residents consume alcohol at a zero, low or moderate risk level.
The statistics were released by the Huron Perth Public Health Unit in light of new guidance from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction.
“The more drinks you have weekly, the greater the risk of alcohol-related harms,” says Lindsay O’Donnell, Public Health Promoter at Huron Perth Public Health. “The best way to reduce your risk is to lower your alcohol use. No matter how much alcohol you currently consume, drinking less is better for your health.”
Data show that alcohol consumption causes nearly 7,000 deaths from cancer each year in Canada.