Has there been an increase in the frequency with which people who drink in a risky fashion receive advice to cut down on their drinking from 1998 to 2015?

BACKGROUND: To assess whether there has been an increase over time in the proportion of people who drink in a risky fashion, who receive expressions of concern about their drinking or advice to cut down.

METHODS: Secondary analysis of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Monitor population survey, conducted annually in Ontario (participants: 18 or older) and with relevant data available from 1998 to 2015 (N = 48,124). The proportions of participants who drank above weekly low-risk drinking levels (approximated as 15 or more drinks for males and 11 or more for females) who reported receiving expressions of concern about their drinking or advice to cut down were compared between the time periods 1998-2004, 2005-2010, and 2011-2015. Further, proportions were broken down by age group and participant sex.

RESULTS: Overall, there were low rates of participants who reported receiving advice about their drinking (16.8% of those drinking above weekly drinking levels) and no evidence of an increase across time, except among males, 34 years and under. Females drinking beyond recommended weekly guidelines were less likely than males to receive advice (11.7% versus 19.3%, respectively; P < .001). Further, older participants drinking beyond weekly guidelines were less likely than younger participants to receive advice (18-34: 16.9%; 35-54: 20.3%; 55 or older: 12.9%; P = .012).

CONCLUSIONS: Given that heavy alcohol consumption is a significant contributor to the preventable burden of disease, increased emphasis is merited on finding ways to increase the frequency with which people who drink in a risky fashion receive advice to cut down.