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Smoking down, heavy drinking up: StatsCan

Written by: QMI Agency
Jun. 19, 2012

(SHUTTERSTOCK)

Canadians seem to be getting the message that smoking is no good for your health, but heavy drinking appears to be on the rise, a Statistics Canada survey released Tuesday suggests.

Results from the 2011 community health survey found fewer Canadians are puffing on cigarettes compared to a decade ago.

About 20% of Canadians reported they smoke occasionally or daily, down from 26% in 2001.

Heavy drinking — consuming five or more drinks in one sitting — went up among both females and males, rising to 19% from 17% the year prior.

The annual survey focuses on a range of health topics, such as second-hand smoke exposure, obesity, exercise and fruit and vegetable consumption.

For the second year in a row, the survey found people are eating fewer fruits and veggies.

In 2011, 40% of Canadians said they eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day, down from a peak of 46% in 2009.

As for exercise, more people said they're at least moderately active — which includes walking for at least a half hour a day or working out for an hour at least three times a week — in their down time.

About 65,000 Canadians aged 12 and older were interviewed last year for the survey.

 

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