6.2.2 Percentage of Canadian youth aged 12 to 19 who report binge drinking once a month or more, by gender, Canada, 2013/14
Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey 2013-2014 & 2011-2012, Public Use Data Set, Accessed through ODESI.
According to the Canadian Community Health Survey, in 2013/14, 14% of young men and young women aged 12 to 17 years in Canada reported binge drinking, once a month or more.
Binge drinking among young women is defined as having 4 or more drinks in one sitting, and for young men it is 5 or more drinks.
Older teens are more likely to binge drink than younger. At age 18-19 years, 31% of young men report binge drinking at least once in the last month. The rate is lower for young women aged 18-19 years at 26%.
Implications
When young people use alcohol, it can contribute to health problems later in life. However, it also has potential for immediate negative outcome. Binge drinking is linked to an increase risk of alcohol overdose, injuries and unwanted or unprotected sex.1
1Freeman JG, King M and Pickett W. Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) in Canada: Focus on Relationships. 2016.
http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/publications/science-research-sciences-recherches/health-behaviour-children-canada-2015-comportements-sante-jeunes/index-eng.php