Consumption of alcohol: Quebec is no longer the champion of moderation

Valerie Bidégaré

Thursday, 31 August, 2017 06:00

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Thursday, 31 August, 2017 06:00

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Quebec loses his title as champion of moderation in alcohol consumption which has been granted by éduc’alcool in 2015. But the Capitale-Nationale region remains in the head of the pack.

“This is not the end of the world,” says the director general of éduc’alcool, Hubert Sacy. “Two years ago, it was the National Capital that was under habits of excessive consumption, while other regions have done better. Therefore, I will not have the pleasure of presenting the trophy éduc’alcool mayor Labeaume as two years ago.”

In 2015, the Québec city was raised to the first rank of an investigation on the regions of Quebec and the alcohol. This year, the exercise was conducted with Quebecers by the firm CROP on behalf of éduc’alcool, and dethrones the National Capital whose residents drink more frequently than the average, but less excessive in addition to being drivers “more careful”. Nevertheless, the consumption habits of “suitable” residents allow him to remain in the head of the pack.

“The Capitale-Nationale region remains in the top tier”, is limited to mention Mr. Ycas has unveiled the results of the survey for the first time in Newspaper, Wednesday, when they will be officially on Thursday. “The top regions, which is first, second, third, and so on-to 16, will be unveiled in mid-September.”

Thus, 84 % of the residents of the Capitale-Nationale consume alcohol, compared to 83% in Quebec. They prefer wine to beer and spirits and drink more frequently than elsewhere in the province in a proportion of 1.7 days compared to 1.4. They also exceed, most frequently, the consumption limits recommended then that 33 % of respondents admit they have exceeded it at least once per month in the last year.

“The blood is not going to flow in the streets of Quebec”, illustrates M. Ycas. “It’s going well. It can get better and it should get better. One of the ideas that I want to make is that it is best to drink regularly in small amounts only occasionally in large quantities”, he adds. “That it does not reduce the consumption of alcohol in general, but that it is spread, it is the great lesson to be learned.”

According to the director of éduc’alcool, the myths that drinking one or more times per week are the consumer of an alcoholic are still well anchored in the mentalities and are difficult to “break”.

“Quebec is very forgiving vis-à-vis the excessive consumption of occasional. It is said this is not serious, it is the end of the week or is one time time time. You are so afraid of regular consumption, because it is said that one will become an alcoholic if one drinks four days a week,” recalls Mr. Ycas for which it is not so much the amount of alcohol consumed, which should be improved, but the consumption model.

“I’m not telling you not to drink, but I invite you just to drink the same amount and spread it out over several days and thus, it is sure that we will improve the performance, you will improve yourself, and you will enjoy the benefits of moderate consumption and we are going to avoid the problems of alcohol abuse”, he says. “This is the best way to consume alcohol.”

Generally, the drivers in Quebec are “cautious”, while 45 % of them claim to have driven after drinking alcohol within the limits permitted by law and 5 % after drinking beyond the permissible limit, compared to a proportion of 7 % for Quebec as a whole.

“A person is one person too many because this is not a disease, it is something that can be avoided. You just need to pay attention and be responsible,” says Sacy, who is proud that 94 % of the residents of Quebec know èduc’alcool slogan.

“It is wonderful, and if one enjoys such credibility, and we say to the people well we are first and do what you advise, and in two years, it is possible that the National Capital is to regain his trophy.”