Alcohol consumption and mortality among Canadian drinkers

Alcohol contributes significantly to the global disease burden. Over 50 countries, including Canada, have established low-risk drinking guidelines to reduce alcohol-related harm. Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH) was released in 2023. A paper, published in the Drug and Alcohol Review, examined the relationship between weekly alcohol consumption, CGAH risk zones and mortality patterns among Canadian drinkers aged 15 and older.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from three cycles of the national, population-based Canadian Community Health Survey (2000-2006) linked to mortality data up to 2017. The sample included 145,760 respondents aged 15 and older who reported alcohol consumption in the past week. Average weekly alcohol consumption was assessed. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, alcohol-related mortality, and mortality from conditions with an alcohol-attributable fraction ≥15%.
Alcohol consumption was significantly positively associated with increased risks of all-cause (hazard ratio = 1.01), alcohol-related (hazard ratio = 1.01), and alcohol-attributable fraction-related mortality (hazard ratio = 1.02). Each additional standard drink per week raised mortality risk, with women experiencing a greater increase in risk compared to men.
The findings support the CGAH recommendations, highlighting the importance of lower alcohol consumption limits to reduce health risks. Public health efforts should focus on increasing awareness and adherence to these guidelines, particularly among women who face greater mortality risks at higher consumption levels. Ongoing monitoring of alcohol consumption is critical for tracking and evaluating low-risk drinking guideline effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related harm, the researchers argue.
Source: Clay JM, Callaghan RC, Sherk A, Naimi TS, Stockwell T, Asbridge M. (2025) Alcohol consumption and mortality among Canadian drinkers: A national population-based survival analysis (2000–2017). Drug Alcohol Rev, 44(2): 434–447.