Alcohol Consumption In Canada

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Alcohol consumption is a ubiquitous staple at almost every social gathering. This centuries old tradition has become a social normality, despite numerous public health implications of moderate and heavy alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption rates across Canada are often stated alongside illicit drug use rates, yet alcohol does not suffer from the same social stigma. Conversely to illegal drugs, which are used in private settings and generally not discussed in public, alcohol is celebrated, consumed in public places, and thought of not as a problem, but as a luxury. Alcohol consumption may be one of the biggest public health concerns in Canada, due to the unrelenting prevalence and its ability to negatively affect multiple facets of individuals’ lives. There have been many attempts at reducing alcohol consumption, but per capita alcohol consumption remains at 65% higher than the global average (1). This suggests a need for a new, more effective and multifaceted, intervention program. …show more content…

It is not only implicated in the development of cirrhosis of the liver, but also a variety of cancers; these cancers include oral, pharyngeal, laryngeal, breast, colorectal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers (2). In addition to direct health effects, an assortment of adverse behavioural outcomes following alcohol consumption has led to increased mortality. Some are obvious, such as drinking and driving, which has been a target of numerous campaigns over many years, but others are not as obvious. Unintentional alcohol poisoning, homicide, suicide, alcohol induced psychoses, and alcohol dependence are among the others (2). With the substantial quantity of negative outcomes from alcohol use and abuse, it is staggering that a recent survey indicated 91% of Canadians are lifetime alcohol users (3); this remains despite a multitude of policies and intervention

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