Drinking rose during the pandemic and remains higher, survey finds

A CAMH survey of more than 3,000 Ontario adults found that while long‑term alcohol use in Canada has declined, people who drink are consuming more than before the COVID‑19 pandemic, with increases in daily drinking and weekly binge drinking.

New research from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) reports changes in alcohol use in Ontario following the COVID‑19 pandemic. CAMH's Monitor eReport surveyed more than 3,000 adults in Ontario and compared patterns since 2019. The report says overall long‑term alcohol use in Canada has fallen, but people who do drink are consuming larger amounts than before the pandemic. CAMH and other specialists described the pandemic and early lockdowns as having continuing effects on some drinking habits. Key findings: - In 2025 about 76.2 per cent of adults of legal drinking age reported consuming alcohol in the previous 12 months. - About 22 per cent of respondents said they drink at least once a month. - Daily drinking rose by 3 percentage points in 2025 compared with 2019. - Weekly binge drinking (five or more drinks on a single occasion at least once per week) increased by 3.6 percentage points compared with before the pandemic. - Men reported higher rates than women: 9.8 per cent of men said they drank daily versus 5.6 per cent of women, and 13.7 per cent of men reported weekly binge drinking versus 5.8 per cent of women. Summary: Experts cited in the report, including CAMH and addiction specialists, noted that higher levels of frequent and binge drinking are associated with a range of physical and mental health risks described by Health Canada. CAMH leaders said they would like to see the share of people drinking continue to decline and indicated the pandemic appears to have had a lasting effect on some drinking patterns. Undetermined at this time.