Highlights | June 22,2017

Alcohol Harm in Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador

Rates of hospitalizations entirely caused by alcohol lower than the Canadian average, varied within the province in 2015–2016

  • Canada-wide variation: InNewfoundland and Labrador, there were 186hospitalizations per 100,000population(239 per 100,000 in Canada). In comparison, the lowest provincial rate was 172 per 100,000 in New Brunswick, and the highest ratewas 349 per 100,000 in British Columbia.
  • Hospitalization by neighbourhood income: The rates by income quintile, from lowestto highest income, were 228, 209, 160, 141 and 193 per 100,000.
  • Variation by geography:The rate was 1.3 times higher in urban areas than in rural areas (211 per 100,000 versus 165 per 100,000).The Labrador–Grenfell Regional Health Authority (RHA) had the highest rate (319 per 100,000), compared withlower rates across the Western, Eastern and Central RHAs (187, 177 and 157 per 100,000, respectively).

Higher heavy drinking rate and alcohol sales than the Canadian average[i]

  • Heavy drinking, 2014 (self-reported): 25% of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians self-reported heavy drinking,[ii]compared with18% across Canada. 33% of males and 18% of females self-reported heavy drinking, above the respective Canadian averages of 23% and 13%.
  • Alcohol sales, 2014–2015: The absolute volume of pure alcohol sold per capita in Newfoundland and Labrador was 8.9 litres, compared with8.1 litres across Canada.

Alcohol policies and interventions with demonstrated evidence of effectiveness in reducing alcohol harm in theinternational literature

  • Alcohol control system: There is a low proportion of government ownership of alcohol retail in Newfoundland and Labrador.
  • Physical availability:There are 201 alcohol retail stores per 100,000 population in Newfoundland and Labrador, compared withthe Canadian average of 50 per 100,000.The maximum number of off-premise retail hours is17, compared withthe Canadian average of 15.
  • Minimum alcohol pricing:Newfoundland and Labradorhas implemented 3 of 4 alcohol minimum pricing policies examined in this report: minimum pricing for off-premise retail, minimum pricing foron-premise sales and adjustment for percentage of alcohol content.
  • Screening, brief intervention and referral (SBIR):SBIR is included in a mental health and addictions strategy.

[i].Sources: Statistics Canada. Table 183-0023: Sales and per capita sales of alcoholic beverages by liquor authorities and other retail outlets, by value, volume, and absolute volume, annual. CANSIM (database).Accessed April 7, 2017.

Statistics Canada.Table 105-0501: Health indicator profile, annual estimates, by age group and sex, Canada, provinces, territories, health regions (2013 boundaries) and peer groups, occasional. CANSIM (database).Accessed April 7, 2017.

[ii].Defined as having 5 or more drinks for men and 4 or more drinks for women on 1 occasion at least once a month over a 1-year period.